SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 30, 2013
Vanderbilt 23, Wake Forest 21: Jordan Matthews had 11 catches for 125 yards, including one on fourth down to set up the host Commodores' game-winning field goal.
Austyn Carta-Samuels went 24-of-33 for 231 yards and a touchdown for Vanderbilt (8-4, 4-4 SEC), which has recorded back-to-back eight-win seasons for the first time since 1927-28. Brian Kimbrow rushed for 45 yards and backup quarterback Patton Robinette added 44 yards and a score.
Tanner Price went 16-of-32 for 155 yards and rushed for 47 yards and a score for Wake Forest (4-8, 2-6 ACC). Josh M. Harris (40 yards), Spencer Bishop (38 yards) and Orville Reynolds (35 yards) each had three catches.
Nikita Whitlock tipped a Carta-Samuels' pass at the line and Justin Jackson returned the interception 63 yards to give Wake Forest a 21-17 lead with 6:10 left in the third. Carey Spear cut the lead to one with a fourth-quarter field goal and, after Matthews' 25-yard catch in double coverage on fourth down, kicked the winning 38-yard field goal with 39 seconds left.
Carta-Samuels hit Fitz Lassing for a 7-yard touchdown and Robinette followed the fullback's block on an 8-yard scoring run. Wake Forest answered each score with touchdown runs, getting a 3-yarder from Price and Dominique Gibson's 9-yard run to tie the game at 14 with 3:09 left in the first half.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Matthews became the first SEC player with more than 100 catches in a season, setting a new single-season mark at 107. ... Price (52 passing, 12 rushing, one receiving) tied Riley Skinner's school record of 65 career touchdowns. ... Vanderbilt went 4-for-4 on fourth down, three of them coming on scoring drives.