A victory, but not the one Vanderbilt wanted
Vanderbilt players and coaches pointed out that the Commodores went 1-0 last week. But 31-27 win over local FCS foe Tennessee State, didn’t make them happy in how it happened.
The Commodores (3-2) dodged a bullet on the game’s last drive. TSU quarterback Demry Croft threw an incompletion on a fourth-down play at the VU 15 with 1:25 left, and the ‘Dores then ran out the clock.
Here’s how VU coach Derek Mason summed it up just after it was over.
“We missed opportunities in the red zone. We were inconsistent (Saturday) — on offense, on defense and on special teams–but we found a way to win. (Wide receiver) Kalija (Lipscomb) made plays, (quarterback) Kyle Shurmur struggled at times. We didn’t get turnovers but we gave the ball away. A win is a win but we have a lot to do. The sun will come up tomorrow and we’ll figure things out.”
The sun did come up on Sunday, which unfortunately put Vandy six days from a trip to No. 2 Georgia. Last year, the Commodores were also 3-2 before facing Georgia, which pummeled Vanderbilt by a 45-14 score and out-gained VU, 549-236.
“It’s going to be a test for us,” Mason said on Tuesday. “This football team is coming off what I could call a poor performance (against Tennessee State). A great win, but a poor performance.”
Vandy upset Georgia, 17-16, its last trip to Athens two years ago. But the Commodores did it with smoke and mirrors. VU was out-gained, 421-171, and UGA had 23 first downs to VU’s nine. Neither team turned the ball over.
This Georgia team is significantly better than that one. This time, VU must win the turnover battle. That nearly did Vandy in last week. Shurmur threw an interception in the end zone, and also another that gave the Tigers the ball at their 41. Meanwhile, the Commodores failed to force a turnover.
Those interceptions came on the first two drives. VU has been out-scored 27-7 in the first quarter this season. Almost half a season in, Mason still doesn’t know what he has if the ‘Dores play to their potential.
“I don’t know what that looks like yet,” Mason said Tuesday. “I’ve seen flashes, but I haven’t seen this group play 60 minutes and four quarters. That’s what it will take to play well down at Georgia.”