Sept. 10, 2016
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Vanderbilt – Middle Tennessee Postgame Notes
Sept. 10, 2016
Vanderbilt Stadium
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 127th year of organized football.
– The Commodores wore their Deep Water uniforms for the first time this season.
– Vanderbilt won the toss and deferred with Middle Tennessee electing to receive and defend the north end zone.
– Attendance was 29,627.
– Vanderbilt captains for the game were Zach Cunningham and Khari Blasingame.
Team Notes
– The Commodores hosted the Blue Raiders for the first time at Vanderbilt Stadium since 2005.
– Vanderbilt has forced a fumble in seven consecutive games dating back to last season after Zach Cunningham’s forced fumble in the first quarter.
– The Commodores led at the half for the second consecutive game to begin the season.
– Vanderbilt scored 33 points in the first half, the most points in a half under Derek Mason
– The ‘Dores finished with 47 points, the second time they have score 40 or more under Mason.
– The 33 points were the most since the ‘Dores scored 38 points in the first half against Austin Peay on Sept. 7, 2013.
– The ‘Dores had five rushing touchdowns against the Blue Raiders, the most since they had five against UAB on Sept. 28, 2013.
– Vanderbilt improves to 3-1 under Mason when they rush for 200+ yards.
Individual Notes
– Bailey McElwain earned his first career start against the Blue Raiders.
– Darrius Sims and Jay Woods made their season debuts.
– Ian Pfeifer saw his first action as Vanderbilt Commodores against Middle Tennessee.
– Zach Cunningham forced his first fumble on the season and his sixth of his career in the first quarter.
– LaDarius Wiley grabbed his second career fumble recovery in the first quarter. He returned it 55 yards and it led to a Vanderbilt field goal.
– Ralph Webb earned his team-high 26th consecutive start for the Commodores.
– Webb totaled a career-high 211 yards on 29 carries against Middle Tennessee. It is the third-most rushing yards by a player in Vanderbilt history.
– Webb is the first Vanderbilt running back to rush for over 200 yards since Frank Mordica in 1978.
– Webb scored his first touchdown of the season and 10th of his career with a one-yard rush in the second quarter. Webb finished with two rushing touchdowns, his second career game with two or more.
– Webb has tallied 366 yards against Middle Tennessee over the past two seasons.
– Sam Dobbs, Sean Dowling and Jared Pinkney hauled in their first career receptions in the second quarter.
– Bailey McElwain grabbed his first career reception in the third quarter.
– Khari Blasingame scored his second and third rushing touchdown in his second game as a Commodore.
– Oren Burks tallied the Commodores first interception of the season and the fourth of his career. He returned it 59 yards and led to a Vanderbilt touchdown.
– The 59-yard interception return is the longest since Steven Clarke had a 66-yard return against South Carolina on Sept. 14, 2013.
– Burks also recorded the Commodores first sack of the season when he got to Brent Stockstill in the fourth quarter.
– Freshman Kalija Lipscomb hauled in a 16-yard pass for his first career touchdown in the second quarter.
– The 16-yard touchdown pass was the first for Kyle Shurmur on the season.
– Ryan White set a career high in tackles with 10 against the Blue Raiders.
– Zach Cunningham recorded 10 tackles against the Gamecocks. It is his 6th straight double-digit tackle game and his 11th of his career.
– Taurean Ferguson tied a career high in tackles and pass breakups with six and two respectfuly.
– LaDarius Wiley totaled four tackles for the second-consecutive week, tying a career high.
Offensive Notes
– Ralph Webb rushed 14 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
– Kyle Shurmur had a streak of seven consecutive completions during the second quarter coming back from the weather delay.
– Vanderbilt had 114 rushing yards in the first half on 19 carries. The ‘Dores finished with 231 rushing yards, their 15th consecutive game rushing for 100 yards or more.
– The ‘Dores had 10 different receivers catch passes against Middle Tennessee, the most since Oct. 9, 2010, against Eastern Michigan.
Defensive Notes
– Vanderbilt has forced a fumble in seven consecutive games dating back to last season after Zach Cunningham’s forced fumble in the first quarter.
– Cunningham tallied nine tackles and one tackle-for-loss in the first half.
Special Teams Notes
– The Commodores recorded their first safety since Oct. 6, 2012, against Missouri.
– Darrius Sims returned three kicks for 95 yards, including a long of 47 yards.
– Sam Loy punted four times for an average of 49.2 yards, placing three inside the 20-yard line and kicking three over 50 yards.
