Nov. 29, 2014
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Vanderbilt – Tennessee Postgame Notes
Nov. 29, 2014
Vanderbilt Stadium
Pregame Notes
• Vanderbilt is in its 125th year of organized football.
• The Commodores wore all black with black jerseys, black pants and helmets.
• Vanderbilt won the toss and deferred to the second half, Tennessee elected to receive in the first half.
• Attendance was 40,350 – the first sell out of the season at Vanderbilt season.
• Saturday’s game served as the Commodores’ Senior Day.
• Vanderbilt captains for the game were Andrew East, Joe Townsend, Kyle Woestmann and Vince Taylor.
• Prior to the game Vanderbilt honored 21 seniors on Senior Day with Hunter Bowman, Andrew Bridges, Ryan Brockway, Barron Dixon, Davis Dudchock, Andrew East, Josh Grady, Alex Grecco, Josh Gregory, Josephy Hoffman, Taylor Hudson, Casey Hughes, Alex Hysong, Derek King, Jimmy Stewart, Vince Taylor, Joe Townsend, Dillon van der Wal, Trey Wilkins, Kellen Williams and Kyle Woestmann being recognized for their final game in Black & Gold.
Team Notes
• Saturday’s game marked the 108th game between Vanderbilt and Tennessee.
• The Commodores trail in the all-time series against Tennessee 30-74-5.
• Vanderbilt finishes the season 3-9 overall.
Individual Notes
• Caleb Scott and Dillon van der Wal each received their first career starts on Saturday, Vanderbilt has now started 28 players for the first time in their careers this season. Scott is the 16th different freshman to garner a start this season for VU.
• Torren McGaster picked off his first career pass in the second quarter to give the Dores possession inside the Tennessee 20-yard line.
• Steven Scheu’s 36-yard TD catch in the second quarter was his fourth of the season, which matches C.J. Duncan’s team lead.
• Patton Robinette’s TD pass to Steven Scheu in the second quarter was his third TD pass of the season and first since the South Carolina game.
• Ralph Webb scored his fourth TD of the season with a three-yard run in the fourth quarter.
• Torren McGaster notched his second interception of the game in the fourth quarter to make him the first Commodore since Andrew Hal in 2012 against Tennessee to have two interceptions in a game.
• With 55 rushing yards Saturday night Ralph Webb moved up to seventh on Vanderbilt’s single-season rushing yards list finishing the year with 912 yards.
• With his 3 catches, Steven Scheu caught at least one pass in all 12 games for the Commodores leading the team with 39 receptions for the season.
• Stephen Weatherly notched a career-best and team season-best five tackles for loss in the game.
• Ralph Webb finishes the season as the Commodores’ leading rusher with 912 yards.
• Johnny McCrary ends the year with 985 passing yards and nine TDs to lead the Dores in passing.
Offensive Notes
• Vanderbilt’s seven-play, 88-yard scoring drive in the second quarter matched the Dores’ longest scoring drive of the season (South Carolina).
• Vanderbilt completed passes to eight different receivers on Saturday marking the ninth time this season the Dores had at least seven receivers catch at least one pass, including eight games with at least eight receivers catching passes.
• The Commodores outgained Tennessee 272-262.
• Vandy’s two TD drives covered 159 yards on 14 plays.
• The Dores had just three three-and-outs in the game compared to Tennessee’s five.
Defensive Notes
• Torren McGaster picked off his first career pass in the second quarter to give the Dores possession inside the Tennessee 20-yard line.
• McGaster’s interception gave the Commodores at least one turnover in nine of the team’s 12 games and was the first turnover forced by the Vandy D since the Old Dominion game.
• Vanderbilt held Tennessee to just 59 yards passing in the first half.
• The defense recorded five tackles for loss, including two sacks in the first half.
• Torren McGaster notched his second interception of the game in the fourth quarter to make him the first Commodore since Andre Hal in 2012 against Tennessee to have two interceptions in a game.
• The defense notched a season-best 12 tackles for loss against Tennessee.
• Stephen Weatherly notched a career-best and team season-best five tackles for loss in the game.
• The Commodores held Tennessee to 92 yards passing, marking the second straight season the Dores have held the Volunteers under 100 yards passing (53 in 2013).
• Vanderbilt held UT to just 98 yards of offense in the second half.
• Zach Cunningham and Stephen Weatherly led the Dores with seven tackles each.
• The Commodores held Tennessee to 3-for-13 on third down.
• Vanderbilt’s two interceptions were the most in a game this season.
• Nigel Bowden finishes the season with 78 tackles to top the Dores’ roster.
• Stephen Weatherly’s 4.5 sacks on the season led the Commodores for the season.
Special Teams Notes
• Tommy Openshaw put the Commodores on the board in the second quarter with a 36-yard field goal, his eighth field goal of the season.
• Colby Cooke punted six times for an average of 46 yards per punt with three punts of 50-plus yards.
• Darrius Sims returned three kicks for 47 yards to finish the season with 760 yards.
