Oxford, MS (Sports Network) - Jordan Rodgers completed a 26-yard touchdown pass
to Chris Boyd with 52 seconds remaining to lift the Vanderbilt Commodores to an
important 27-26 win over the Ole Miss Rebels in an SEC battle at Vaught-
Hemingway Stadium.
Rodgers went 20-of-35 for 267 yards and two touchdowns as he led the Commodores
(6-4, 4-3 SEC) back from a 23-6 deficit in the second half. Jordan Matthews
made nine receptions for 152 yards and a score while Boyd made five grabs for
64 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Javon Marshall anchored the defense
with 11 total tackles and one tackle for loss as the Commodores became bowl
eligible for the second straight season.
Ole Miss (5-5, 2-4) gained 458 yards of total offense as it lost its second
game in a row. Bo Wallace completed 31-of-49 attempts for a career-high 403
yards and a touchdown. Ja-Mes Logan made eight catches for 160 yards, Donte
Moncrief tallied 74 yards on eight receptions, and Vince Sanders reeled in five
passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.
The Rebels struck first as Wallace completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to
Sanders at the 11:16 mark of the opening period. The Commodores scored their
first points in the final minute of the first quarter as Casey Spear chipped in
a 22-yard field goal.
Ole Miss added straight nine points and increased its advantage to 16-3 as
Bryson Rose kicked in field goals from 22, 28, and 41 yards out. Vanderbilt
managed to put Spear in position to make a 44-yard field goal in the closing
seconds of the first half, which sent the Commodores into the intermission
trailing 16-6.
The Rebels drove 56 yards on nine plays after receiving the ball to start the
second half. Wallace's one-yard touchdown run finished off the drive and gave
the home team a commanding 23-6 lead.
Rodgers begin to guide Vandy back as he completed a 52-yard touchdown pass to
Matthews at the 9:52 mark of the third frame. The Commodores then produced an
11-play, 51-yard drive which Wesley Tate finished off with a two-yard plunge
into the end zone. Tate's rushing score reduced the Rebels' lead to just three
points, 23-20, as the game progressed into the fourth quarter.
Neither side managed to put any points on the scoreboard in the final quarter
until Rose netted a 27-yard field goal with 2:43 left in regulation. Rose's
fourth field goal made it mandatory for the Commodores to pursue a touchdown.
Vanderbilt took over possession with 2:43 left to play on its own 21-yard line.
Rodgers went 6-of-7 for 77 yards including the game-winning touchdown pass on
the final drive.
Ole Miss made it to midfield, but the Commodores forced a turnover on downs to
seal the win.
Despite the loss, the Rebels gained 458 yards of total offense and limited the
Commodores to 371 yards.
GAME NOTES:
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