Aug. 30, 2012
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Howell’s Photos 
| Russell’s Photos
Vanderbilt – South Carolina Post-game Notes
August 30, 2012 Vanderbilt Stadium – Nashville, Tenn.
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 123rd year of organized football.
– The Commodores wore black pants, black jerseys and black helmets.
– South Carolina won the toss and deferred to the second half with Vanderbilt electing to receive in the first half.
– Attendance was 38,393, which is the largest home crowd since Oct. 3, 2009 versus Ole Miss (39,625).
– Tonight’s crowd also marked the largest for a home opener since Aug. 30, 2001 versus Middle Tennessee State (39,885).
– Thursday night’s season-opener marked the first time since 2008 that the Commodores opened the season on a Thursday night and only the seventh time in school history.
Team Notes
– Jordan Rodgers’ 78-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Matthews was the longest since Mackenzi Adams threw a 79-yard pass to Sean Walker in 2008 versus Duke.
– Vanderbilt outgained the Gamecocks, 276-272, on the night.
Individual Notes
– Kris Kentera and C Spencer Pulley received their first career starts.
– Kentera, Brian Kimbrow, Josh Grady, Caleb Azubike, Andrew Williamson, Jimmy Stewart, Kellen Williams, Darien Bryant, Darreon Herring, Larry Franklin and Jahmel McIntosh saw their first action in a Vanderbilt uniform.
– Karl Butler recorded his first career forced fumble.
– Matthews’ 78-yard touchdown reception was the longest of his career.
– Rodgers’ 78-yard touchdown pass was the longest of his career.
– Grady hauled in his first career reception on a 32-yard pickup.
– Kimbrow tallied his first career-rushing attempt on a three-yard gain.
– Zac Stacy finished with 48 yards, moving him into seventh-place (2,050) for career rushing yards in school history.
– Chase Garnham recorded his first sack of the season and third of his career.
– Walker May registered his first sack of the 2012 season and now has 5.5 for his career.
– Javon Marshall set a new career-high with 10 tackles.
– Larry Franklin recorded his first career tackle. He finished with two on the night.
– Brian Kimbrow, Caleb Azubike and Darreon Herring played in the season opener as true freshmen.
Defense
– Javon Marshall led the team with 10 total tackles. Kenny Ladler and Chase Garnham each had nine tackles.
– Eight Commodores had tackles for loss, and three had sacks (Ladler, Garnham, May).
– DB Kenny Ladler recorded his third career interception in the first quarter. Ladler also registered his first career sack.
Offense
– With Matthew’s second quarter touchdown catch he now has 10 career touchdown receptions.
– Rodgers’ second quarter touchdown pass was the 10th of his career.
Special Teams
– Carey Spear connected on a 25-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter and a career-long 44-yard field goal in the third, but missed one kick of 51 yards. Spear is now 6-of-9 for his career.
– All four of Spear’s kickoffs went for touchbacks.
– Andre Hal returned a kickoff for 52 yards in the fourth quarter.
