In the minutes following his first victory as head coach, Robbie Caldwell emphasized the importance of his squad’s practice strategy.
“Our defense works hard every day to create turnovers,” Caldwell said. “We try to create them in practice, from fumbles to interceptions to however we can get the ball.”
On Saturday afternoon in Oxford, the Commodores’ (1-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) hard work paid off. The defense forced two Ole Miss (1-2, 0-1 SEC) fumbles, and an interception late in the waning minutes to cement a tough-earned road win.
“It's funny, we talked about it in the huddle on the sideline. Not only did we do that, we did it and scored,” Caldwell said. “[Eddie] Foster picks it off and takes it back and Casey Hayward almost had one earlier. We talked about it all week and how we'd like to get one, and he almost did.”
Foster’s interception and 21-yard return for a touchdown, with over three minutes to play in the first half, gave the Commodores a 14-0 advantage.
“I didn't really think [quarterback] Jeremiah Masoli would throw it,” Foster said. “But I broke on it and got there just in time, and had a clear run to the end zone.”
Yet the lead would not last. The Rebels responded on the ensuing possession, as wide out Korvic Neat capped a 63-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run in the closing minute of the second quarter.
After a penalty derailed Vanderbilt’s drive to open the second half, Masoli spearheaded a 63-yard march by Ole Miss. He rushed for 38 yards, the final 28 of which came on a scamper that tied the score at 14-14 with over eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Masoli added, “We really needed a score right there, and I think we had a good play call at the time. You just have to make a play sometimes, and that's what happened.”
On the next play from scrimmage, tailback Warren Norman made a play as well.
“[The hole] just opened up — it was quite shocking, actually,” Norman said. “I almost hesitated once I got the ball because it was so big.”
That hole was big enough to spring Norman on an 80-yard touchdown run, the second longest in Vanderbilt football history.
Moreover, Norman’s scamper gave the Commodores a much-needed boost, as they had just relinquished a 14-point advantage with Masoli’s score.
“There was definitely a lot of energy on the sideline after the touchdown,” Norman said. “We went up seven points, so maintaining a lead was very important — we were able to hold it.”
Retaining that seven-point difference into the fourth quarter, punter Richard Kent pinned the Rebels at their own seven-yard line. On first down, senior linebacker John Stokes forced a fumble by Neat. Freshman Kenny Ladler recovered to give Vanderbilt the ball deep within Ole Miss territory.
On the subsequent play, quarterback Larry Smith’s 15-yard touchdown run put the contest out of the Rebels’ reach.
“We were ready for anything they were going to throw at us, and [the offensive line] did a great job opening holes on our touchdown,” Smith said. “Everything finally came together.”
It was the first victory for the Commodores in 51 weeks, and their first conference victory since November 15th of 2008.
After this weekend’s bye, Vanderbilt seeks to feed off the win as they travel to the University of Connecticut.
“We are definitely going to be pumped up and ready to go,” redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Rob Lohr said.
