Sept. 15, 2012
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Vanderbilt – Presbyterian Postgame Notes
September 15, 2012 Vanderbilt Stadium – Nashville, Tenn.
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 123rd year of organized football.
– The Commodores wore gold helmets and pants with black jerseys, marking the first time the team has worn the combination this season.
– Presbyterian won the toss and elected to receive in the first half.
– Attendance was 35,491.
Team Notes
– Vanderbilt is now 16-1 all-time against FCS opponents with 10 consecutive wins over the last decade.
– The Commodores’ 27-point lead at the half is the largest halftime lead since the Eastern Michigan game on October 9, 2010 when VU led 31-3.
– The 58-point, shutout victory matches the largest margin of victory in a shutout since 1999 against The Citadel.
– Vanderbilt improves to 5-2 in nonconference games under Head Coach James Franklin.
Individual Notes
– Sophomore Joe Townsend earned his first start of his career, starting at center, and junior QB Austyn Carta-Samuels earned his first starting assignment for the Dores. Townsend and Carta-Samuels become the fifth and sixth Commodores to earn their first career starts at Vandy. Carta-Samuels started 21 games at Wyoming before transferring to Vanderbilt in 2011.
– Zac Stacy took the Dores’ first play of the day 86 yards for Vanderbilt’s longest rushing play in school history. The run also moved Stacy into fourth place on the school’s all-time rushing list passing Jermaine Johnson (1993-95), Jared McGrath (1997-2000) and Lonnie Sadler (1972-75).
– On his second run of the day, Stacy moved into third all-time on the VU rushing list with a 35-yard run up near midfield pushing him past Jamie O’Rourke (1971, 73-74). Stacy finished the day with 174 yards, his seventh career 100-yard game, on eight carries and now has 2,260 yards in his career. Stacy has three of the top 10 rushing performances in Vandy history with games of 198 vs. Army (2011), 184 at Wake Forest (2011) and 174 vs. Presbyterian.
– Carey Spear made his fifth field goal of the season with a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter.
– Barron Dixon recovered his first career fumble in the first quarter when Archibald Barnes knocked the ball loose.
– Wesley Tate scored his second career touchdown in the second quarter when he ran over the left side for six yards.
– Warren Norman carried the ball for four yards in the second quarter for his first rush since October 2010 vs. Arkansas.
– Josh Grady rushed for a career-long 13 yards on a play out of the Wildcat formation in the second quarter setting the Dores up for a 1st & Goal.
– Spear knocked in his sixth field of the season in the second quarter from 28 yards. Spear is now 4-for-4 inside of 30 yards.
– Eric Samuels collected his first career sack in the second quarter dragging down PC quarterback Tamyn Garrick for an 11-yard loss.
– Trey Wilson became the second Commodore to return an interception 100 yards for a touchdown matching Archibald Barnes’ effort against Tennessee last season. The score was Wilson’s third career pick six and sets the new school record for interceptions returned for a score.
– Freshman Darreon Herring made his first career tackle for loss with a tackle for a five-yard loss in the second quarter.
– Brian Kimbrow ran for a career-best 39 yards on the final play of the first half.
– Steven Scheu made his first career reception with a three-yard TD catch in the third quarter. The score also marked Austyn Carta-Samuels first career TD pass as a Commodore.
– Wesley Tate plunged in for his second score of the day in the third quarter for his first career two TD game.
– Josh Grady recorded a career-best two catches and 37 yards.
– Warren Norman scored his first TD since 2010 with a three-yard run in the third quarter.
– Freshman Brian Kimbrow notched his first career 100-yard game, rushing for 137 yards.
– Kimbrow and Stacy became the first VU duo to each rush for 100-plus yards since 2009 when Stacy and Warren Norman each rushed for over 100 yards against Western Carolina.
– Carey Spear kicked a career-high three field goals with his 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Spear is the first VU kicker since Ryan Fowler to kick three field goals in a game since November 21, 2009 at Tennessee.
– Former walk-on QB John Townsley earned his first action as a Commodore, playing the fourth quarter.
Offensive Notes
– For the second week in a row the Commodores took the opening drive down the field for a touchdown. Barnes is the Dores’ active leader with five forced fumbles in his career.
– Vanderbilt scored on each of its first three drives, totaling 17 points.
– The Commodores racked up 234 yards on the ground in the first half led by Zac Stacy’s 140 yards on four attempts.
– Vanderbilt rushed for over 400 yards tallying 410 yards, marking the first time to top 400 yards in a game since the Dores ran for 433 yards against Western Carolina in 2009.
– The VU offense scored 51 points in the victory, the most since 2003 when the Dores beat Chattanooga 51-6.
– The Commodores’ 605 total yards is the most since the Army game last season when the Dores gained 530 yards.
Defensive Notes
– The defense scored for the first time this season when Trey Wilson returned a touchdown 100 yards in the second quarter.
– Wilson’s interception is the second of the season for VU joining Kenny Ladler (South Carolina).
– The Dores’ D held the Blue Hose to just 39 yards rushing on 22 attempts in the first half.
– The defense pitched the first shutout since 2009 when the Dores beat Western Carolina 45-0.
– The Blue Hose were allowed just seven first downs on the day and held to 3-of-16 on third down.
Special Team Notes
– Carey Spear connected on all three of his field goal attempts becoming the first Commodore to kick three field goals in a game since Ryan Fowler in 2009 at Tennessee.
– Richard Kent’s lone punt of the day came in the fourth quarter and went for 48 yards.
