Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Vanderbilt Commodores Match Player Stats On Sep 10, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 10, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Ralph Webb and an opportunistic defense and special teams carried Vanderbilt to a 47-24 win over Middle Tennessee State on Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium.

The junior rushed 29 times for a career-high 211 yards, becoming the first Vanderbilt player to top 200 yards since Frank Mordica's 321 in 1978.

The Blue Raiders lent Vanderbilt a hand with three turnovers and nine penalties for 92 yards.

MTSU led 10-5 after quarterback Brent Stockstill hit receiver Richie James for a 1-yard touchdown with 2:41 left in the first quarter. But Vanderbilt scored 28 of the game's next 35 points, including two Webb scoring runs.

That was Middle Tennessee's last lead.

After Stockstill's late third-quarter scoring strike to receiver Patrick Smith and subsequent PAT cut the lead to nine, Vanderbilt sealed the game with fourth-quarter scoring runs by running backs Dallas Rivers and Khari Blasingame.

First halves don't get much crazier than this one. Vanderbilt took a 33-17 halftime lead to the locker room at about 6:40 p.m. CT in a game that started at 3, thanks to a 1:44 severe weather delay.

The Blue Raiders held a 298-193 yardage advantage at the break and Commodores quarterback Kyle Shurmur didn't complete a pass until the second quarter.

But Middle's mistakes were critical. The Commodores scored on a team safety via a fumbled punt and two turnovers that gave Vanderbilt possession at the Middle 7 and 13 that led to 10 points.

Webb's scores came in the first half, with his 49-yard dash down the left side setting up one of them.

Stockstill threw for 226 first-half yards on 37 attempts but also had a critical interception by Vandy linebacker Oren Burks that resulted in that Vanderbilt possession at the Blue Raiders' 7.

MTSU's James set a school record with 14 catches and Stockstill threw for 399 yards on 65 attempts.