Oct. 15, 2016
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Vanderbilt – Georgia Postgame Notes
Oct. 15, 2016
Sanford Stadium
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 127th year of organized football.
– The Commodores wore black helmets and pants with gold jerseys.
– Georgia won the toss and deferred with Vanderbilt electing to receive.
– Attendance was 92,746.
– Vanderbilt captains for the game were Ralph Webb, Ryan White, Zach Cunningham and Oren Burks.
– The Commodores received the opening kickoff for the first time this season.
Team Notes
– Vanderbilt scored on it’s opening position for the third time this season with Ralph Webb’s two-yard run.
– Vanderbilt led 7-6 at halftime, marking the third time VU has led at the break this year.
– The Commodores won in Athens for the first time since 2006.
– Head Coach Derek Mason won his first SEC road game.
– Coach Mason improved to 4-3 in games decided by three points or less at VU.
– The Commodores won for the first time under Mason when rushing for less than 100 yards.
– Vanderbilt did not force a turnover for the first time this season but did not turn the ball over.
Individual Notes
– Darrius Sims returned the opening kick 95 yards, his longest since a 100-yard TD return against South Carolina in 2014.
– Dare Odeyingbo earned his first career start, getting the nod at defensive end.
– Ralph Webb’s one-yard TD run was his sixth rushing score of the season, a new single-season career-best.
– Arnold Tarpley drew his first start of the season at safety.
– Ralph Webb started his 31st straight game at RB and Will Holden started his 29th straight game on the offensive line.
– Zach Cunningham made nine tackles in the first half, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
– Trent Sherfield caught two passes in the first half to lead the Dores.
– Kalija Lipscomb’s 17-yard punt return early in the third quarter was the longest punt return for the Dores this season.
– Tommy Openshaw booted his eighth field goal of the season in the third quarter with a 38-yard kick.
– LaDarius Wiley recorded his first career sack in the third quarter.
– Zach Cunningham made a career-high 19 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss.
– Khari Blasingame scored his fourth touchdown of the year with a two-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
– Sam Loy recorded a new career-best with a 67-yard punt in the fourth quarter.
– Ryan White made a career-high 12 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss
– Torren McGaster matched his career-high with nine tackles.
– Darrius Sims led VU with 142 all-purpose yards, including 124 yards in kick returns.
– Sam Loy averaged 47.2 yards over eight punts.
– Kyle Shurmur passed for 109 yards.
– Ralph Webb caught two passes for 44 yards and rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown.
– Kalija Lipscomb returned three punts for 27 yards.
Offensive Notes
– Vanderbilt scored on it’s opening possession for the third time this season with Ralph Webb’s one-yard run.
– The Commodores converted the team’s opening drive of the second half for three points, marking the second time VU has scored on it’s opening drive of the second half.
– For the first time this season, Vanderbilt scored on both its opening drives of both halves.
– Vanderbilt’s 75-yard, game-winning drive was the team’s sixth TD drive of 70+ yards this season.
– The Commodores converted all three trips into the red zone for 17 points.
Defensive Notes
– The Commodores started four defensive lineman for the first time this year with Nifae Lealao, Jonathan Wynn, Dare Odeyingbo and Adam Butler on the line.
– Vanderbilt held Georgia to 54 yards rushing – the Bulldogs entered the game averaging over 200 yards per game.
– VU registered five tackles for loss in the first half led by Zach Cunningham’s 1.5.
– Vanderbilt held Georgia to 75 yards rushing.
– The defense made nine tackles for loss in the game.
Special Teams Notes
– Darrius Sims returned the opening kick 95 yards, his longest since a 100-yard TD return against South Carolina in 2014.
– Sam Loy punted five times in the first half for an average of 47.8 yards, including a long of 57 yards.
– Kalija Lipscomb’s 17-yard punt return early in the third quarter was the longest punt return for the Dores this season. The return set up Vanderbilt’s field goal to make the score 10-6.
– Tommy Openshaw booted his eighth field goal of the season in the third quarter with a 38-yard kick.
– Sam Loy recorded a new career-best with a 67-yard punt in the fourth quarter.
– Darrius Sims led VU with 142 all-purpose yards, including 124 yards in kick returns.
– Sam Loy averaged 47.2 yards over eight punts.
– Kalija Lipscomb returned three punts for 27 yards.
