Oct. 1, 2016
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Vanderbilt — Florida Postgame Notes
Oct. 1, 2016
Vanderbilt Stadium
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 127th year of organized football.
– The Commodores wore black helmets, gold jerseys and gold pants in the game.
– Attendance was 30,575.
– Vanderbilt captains for the game were Zach Cunningham, Kyle Shurmur, Ralph Webb, and Ryan White.
– Florida won the toss and elected to receive. Vanderbilt will defend the south end zone.
Team Notes
– The Commodores eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark as a team for the second-consecutive game and fourth time this season. They ran for 147 yards on 37 attempts against the Gators.
– Vanderbilt is only the second team this season to rush for over 100 yards against the Gator defense.
– The `Dores tied a season high in tackles-for-loss with six. It was the first multi-sack game for the Commodore defense this season.
Individual Notes
– Ralph Webb passed Frank Mordica for second all-time on the Vanderbilt career rushing yards list on a three-yard scamper at the beginning of the fourth quarter. He now needs 502 yards to break Zac Stacy’s school record for career rushing yards.
– Webb ran for 110 yards on 24 carries against the Gators. It is his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and eighth of his career.
– Webb is the first individual to run for over 100 yards against the Gator defense this season.
– Webb made his 29th straight start at running back for the Commodores.
– Cornerback Bryce Lewis and offensive lineman Ean Pfeifer made their first career starts against the Gators.
– Running back Khari Blasingame made his first career offensive start for the Commodores. He started one game last season as a linebacker.
– Blasingame broke free for a career-long 16-yard rush late in the third quarter while the Commodores were driving in Florida territory.
– Nathan Marcus hauled in an 11-yard reception in the first quarter for a first down. He has had at least one reception in six-consecutive games dating back to last season.
– Offensive lineman Darion DeBrossard made his first career debut on offense for Vanderbilt late in the first quarter. He saw action against Georgia Tech on the defensive line.
– Zach Cunningham totaled 14 tackles against the Gators. It is his third double-digit tackle game of the season and the 12th of his career. It was one tackle shy of his career high, which he set last season against Middle Tennessee.
– Adam Butler recorded a career high in sacks with two against the Gators. He has 6.5 sacks for his career.
– Butler also tied a career in high in solo tackles with three.
– Linebacker Ja’karri Thomas set a career high in tackles with 11. His previous high was nine against Charleston Southern on Oct. 11, 2014.
– LaDarius Wiley also set a career high in tackles with 11 against the Gators. His previous high was eight, which he set earlier this season against Georgia Tech.
– Torren McGaster recovered a fumble for the second-consecutive game. It was the fourth fumble recovery of his career.
Offensive Notes
– Vanderbilt is now a perfect 17-for-17 in the red zone with 12 touchdowns and five field goals.
– Ralph Webb had nine carries for 35 yards (3.9 avg.) in the first half. He finished with 110 yards on 25 attempts.
– Vanderbilt won the time-of-possession battle in the first half 15:03-14:57. They finished the game with an advantage of 32:55-27:05.
– Darrius Sims broke his season long rush of 17 yards in the first half against Florida.
– The Commodores tied a season high for plays on a scoring drive when they drove down the field in 13 plays for an Openshaw 27-yard field goal. The drive lasted 7:57 minutes, the longest for the Commodores this season.
Defensive Notes
– The Commodores held the Gators scoreless in the first quarter for the first time this season.
– Zach Cunningham led the Commodore defense with nine tackles in the first half against the Gators.
– Adam Butler recorded his career-high two sacks in the first half.
– The Commodores continued their streak of forcing a turnover in every game this season after Torren McGaster recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter while Florida was in the red zone.
– Held Florida to 0-for-3 on third down conversions in the first quarter and 6-for-15 (40 percent) for the game.
Special Teams Notes
– Sam Loy had an average punting distance of 47.5 yards, including a season-long 60-yard punt that flipped field position in the first quarter.
– Kalija Lipscomb return a punt in the third quarter for a season-long 14 yards.
– Tommy Openshaw connected for a 38-yard and 27-yard field goal against the Gators. Openshaw is now 5-for-6 (83.3 percent) this season on field goals.
