Sept. 21, 2008
Vanderbilt linebacker Chris Marve strips Ole Miss wide receiver Dexter McCluster of the ball near the goal line in the fourth quarterof the Commodores 23-17 victory over the Rebels.
(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Complete Recap: Vanderbilt 23, Ole Miss 17
Winning their fourth consecutive game in hard-fought fashion Saturday night at Ole Miss, Bobby Johnson’s Vanderbilt Commodores entered the national Top 25 for the first time in more than two decades while junior safety Ryan Hamilton garnered national attention after posting one of the top individual defensive performances in team history.
Vanderbilt is ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press Poll, and No. 25 by the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. The last time Vanderbilt was ranked by the Associated Press was Sept. 30, 1984 after defeating Alabama for a 4-0 start.
Hamilton, a product of Council Rock North H.S. in Wycombe, Pa., was named National Defensive Player of the Week by Walter Camp Football Foundation after tying a school record with three interceptions, including one returned for a 79-yard touchdown and another that sealed the victory as time expired. Hamilton also produced a critical goal-line stop on fourth down to prevent a Rebel score and added a fumble recovery on an Ole Miss punt return.
With the 23-17 win over Ole Miss, the Commodores moved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Southeastern Conference play.
Johnson said the national ranking was a tribute to his team’s solid early season play and ability to prevail in close games.
“We’re proud of the ranking. It is a reflection of us being 4-0, but I also think voters in both polls are seeing a team that plays hard and does everything it can to win games. As a coach, that’s all you can ask of your team,” Johnson said.
“I’m extremely proud of how hard our guys played last night at Ole Miss. Both teams gave great effort. This was a really good win for our team. That’s probably the way the voters saw it too. We’re going to enjoy this one for a day, then get back to work and try to become a better football team,” Johnson added.
Hamilton and the Commodore defense pitched a second half shutout to pace Vanderbilt to only its third 4-0 start since 1984. The unit forced six Rebel turnovers, including four interceptions and two fumbles.
Two huge defensive plays in the fourth quarter, one credited to Hamilton, sealed the Commodore victory. Linebacker Chris Marve made the first big play, forcing a fumble at Rebel receiver Dexter McCluster at the Vanderbilt 2-yard line that cornerback D.J. Moore recovered in the end zone with 2:40 left.
After Vanderbilt went down the field and pushed the lead to six points on Bryant Hahnfeldt’s third consecutive field goal, Hamilton sealed the victory by intercepting a last-play desperation pass by Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead.
The final play capped a remarkable game by Hamilton, who entered the contest with one career interception in 24 career starts.
Hamilton slowed Ole Miss’ early momentum by taking an interception 79 yards for a touchdown to close a 10-point deficit to 10-7 in the first quarter. Hamilton’s second interception came in late in the second quarter, and stopped another Ole Miss drive in Vanderbilt territory.
Early in the third quarter, Hamilton made two more key plays: stopping Rebel back Cordera Eason for no gain on fourth down inside the Vanderbilt 1-yard line, then recovering an Ole Miss fumble near midfield after a Commodore punt.
“Ryan just played a great game, and made a lot of plays like the rest of our defense did,” Johnson said. “He is one of those guys that studies the game, and works tremendously hard to be the very best player he can be. I’m just as proud of Ryan as I am the rest of our guys.”
Hamilton’s recognition by the Walter Camp Football Foundation marks the second time in three weeks that a Commodore defender has earned national recognition. Junior linebacker Patrick Benoist was named the Football Writers Association of American Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9 for a 15-tackle effort in Vanderbilt’s 24-17 victory over No. 24 South Carolina.
The Commodores are off on Saturday, Sept. 27, and return to action by hosting the nationally ranked Auburn Tigers on Oct. 4.
