Vanderbilt-South Carolina notes

Aug. 30, 2012

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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.