Sept. 13, 2008
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Commodore Game Notes
Rice at Vanderbilt
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008
Attendance: 37,370
The Commodores move to 3-0 for the first time since the 2005 season … It is only the second time the team has accomplished the feat since the 1984 season … The win is the ninth in 10 games against non-Southeastern Conference opponents … After giving up 21 first half points, the defense held Rice scoreless in the second half. Vanderbilt has outscored opponents 45-10 in the second half this season … The Commodores outscored the Owls 24-0 since the 3:19 mark in the first half … The 38 points is a season high, besting the 34 scored against Miami (Ohio) in the season opener …The 273 yards rushing is the first time the team rushed for over 200 yards since going for 239 yards against Kentucky last year. Vanderbilt moved to 3-1 against Rice all-time.
First Half
– D.J. Moore’s 39-yard kickoff return at the 9:47 mark in the first quarter was a season long. His previous season high was 20 yards against South Carolina a week ago.
– Brett Upson’s 40-yard punt at the 8:04 mark pinned Rice at its own 2-yard line. It was his fourth punt this year that has been downed inside the 20. Broderick Stewart’s pass breakup on third down, forced Rice to punt from its endzone.
– D.J. Moore returned the 47-yard punt 17 yards to the Owls 35 yard line and then ran a reverse for 24 yards to the 11-yard line. Sean Walker’s five-yard touchdown run at the 4:22 mark in the first quarter tied the game at 7-7. It was his second career rushing touchdown, the first coming against Georgia in 2007.
– Sean Walker’s 31-yard kickoff return at the 1:23 point in the first quarter was a new career long. He had a 30-yard return against Miami (Ohio).
– Brent Trice’s recorded his first collegiate quarterback sack and forced fumble at the 12:02 mark in the second quarter. He also recovered the fumble, ending a Rice scoring threat at the VU 32 yard line.
– Chris Nickson’s 14-yard touchdown run at the 8:20 mark capped off a 12 play, 68-yard drive to tie the game at 14-14.
– Jared Hawkins seven-yard touchdown run with 15 seconds left in the first half tied the game at 21-21. The 7 play, 60 yard drive took 3:04 off the clock.
Second Half
– Myron Lewis’ quarterback sack on third down at the 13:12 mark in the third quarter halted Rice’s opening drive of the second half. It forced the Owls to punt for just the second time in the game. It was his first career sack.
– Jamie Graham’s 27-yard touchdown run at the 11:41 mark came on a career-long rush and it also was his first career score. It capped off a 3 play, 42-yard drive that gave the Commodores a 28-21.
– Myron Lewis added his second sack of the game at the 9:19 mark in the third quarter. It came on third down, marking the second straight Rice drive that he ended with a sack.
– After gaining 272 yards on 37 plays in the first half, the Commodore defense held the Owl offense to just 80 yards on 21 plays in the third quarter. Rice did not score in its first five possessions of the second half.
– D.J. Moore’s 67 yard punt return in the third quarter set the Commodores up at Rice’s 1-yard line. Chris Nickson scored on the next play to make it 38-21. It marked the second time this season Moore has had a return to the opponent’s 1-yard line. He had a 91-yard punt return against Miami (Ohio)
Postgame
– Bryant Hahnfeldt’s 48-yard field goal at the 3:43 mark in the third quarter gave him seven points in the game and 209 for his career, tying John Markham’s career scoring mark set from 1997-2000. The Nashville native is 4-for-4 on the season in field goals. He became the school’s career scoring leader after kicking an extra point at the 10:00 mark in the fourth quarter.
– D.J. Moore finished with 206 all-purpose yards. He had 84 yards on punt returns, 54 on kick returns, 37 yards rushing and 31 yards on an interception return.
– For the second straight game Jared Hawkins set career highs in yards and rushing, finishing with 20 rushes for 107 yards and a touchdown. He is the first Commodore running back to go over the century mark since Cassen Jackson-Garrison went for 119 yards against Ole Miss on Sept. 15, 2007.
– Chris Nickson finished with 85 yards rushing on 15 carries with two touchdown runs. He has now run for five TDs in three games. He had two all of last season and his single season high is nine rushing scores in 2006.
– Ryan Hamilton set a new career high with 11 tackles in the game. Myron Lewis also set a career high with 10 tackles including two sacks. Patrick Benoist posted his second straight double-digit tackle game after recording 10 tonight, including one for loss. Jared Fagan had a career-best nine tackles and Brandon Stewart was credited with two pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.
– After giving up 272 yards in the first half, the defense limited Rice to 135 yards in the second half.
