SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 1, 2014
Vanderbilt 42, Old Dominion 28: Redshirt freshman Johnny McCrary went 20-of-29 for 281 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Commodores over the visiting Monarchs in a nonconference game.
McCrary, who had his first start in a loss to Missouri last week, threw scoring passes to five different receivers, including Latevius Rayford, who had five catches for 79 yards, and C.J. Duncan, who had four receptions for 65 yards. Freshman Ralph Webb rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries for Vanderbilt (3-6).
Taylor Heinicke led Old Dominion (3-6) of Conference USA, going 21-of-36 for 291 yards, two touchdowns and an interception with Antonio Vaughan catching five passes for 90 yards and a score. The Monarchs could not get their running game going and freshman Ray Lawry was held to 12 yards on eight carries, including a 2-yard scoring run late in the game.
The Monarchs pulled within 28-21 when McCrary fumbled at the Commodores’ 1 and Old Dominion’s Poncho Barnwell recovered for a touchdown. McCrary, however, hit Davis Dudchock for a 50-yard score on the second play of the fourth quarter, then added a 30-yard touchdown pass to Duncan for a 42-21 lead with 4:49 remaining in the game.
Vanderbilt only led 28-14 at halftime despite dominating the first two quarters with McCrary throwing for 156 yards and three touchdowns and Webb rushing for 107 yards and a score. Old Dominion was held to just five first downs in the first half, but Heinicke passed for a touchdown in each quarter, 30 yards to Marques Little in the first and 8 yards to Vaughan in the second.
NOTEBOOK: The Commodores had a trick play blow up on them late in the third quarter, wasting a 10-play, 10-minute drive when WR Kris Kentera took a reverse with the ball at the Monarchs’ 14 and attempted a pass; he lost the ball on a fumble after an 11-yard sack. … Webb moved into third place on the Vanderbilt single-season rushing list for freshmen and has 760 yards, trailing Kwane Doster (798, 2002) and Warren Norman (783, 2009). … Old Dominion has lost five straight and has one of the worst defenses in the nation, allowing 41 points a game.