Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores Match Player Stats On Oct 01, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Oct 1, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Florida's offense wasn't very good, but it was just efficient enough for a 13-6 win over Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The No. 23 Gators gained just 236 of total offense, but 171 of that came on its three scoring drives. Florida kicker Eddy Pinero booted three field goals, accounting for more than enough for the Gators to post their third victory in a row over Vanderbilt and 25th of the last 26 in the series.

Florida missed a golden opportunity to put the game away late, when quarterback Austin Appleby fumbled a snap on a second-and-goal play from the Vandy 1. Commodores cornerback Torren McGaster pounced on it at the Vandy 7 with 2:56 left.

Vanderbilt backup quarterback Wade Freebeck led the Commodores to their own 42 on the ensuing drive. But Vandy, with all of its timeouts left, opted to punt on fourth-and-8. Vanderbilt got the ball back with 1:01 left at its 23, but on the next snap, Florida defensive back Nick Washington intercepted him at the VU 49 with 54 seconds remaining.

Vanderbilt capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive with Tommy Openshaw's 27-yard field goal, pulling the Commodores within 10-6 with 2:53 left in the third quarter. Pinero answered with a 26-yard field goal with 8:16 to play to extend Florida's lead to seven.

The Gators managed a 10-3 lead at the break, thanks to a 125-114 edge in total offense.

With neither team doing much, Florida running back Jordan Scarlett ripped off a 24-yard run to the Vandy 18 midway through the second quarter. An unsportsmanlike conduct call on outside linebacker Landon Stokes gave the Gators first-and-goal at the Vanderbilt 9, before Scarlett ran between his guards for a 4-yard touchdown run two plays later for a 7-0 lead with 6:27 left before half.

The Commodores punched back on the next drive, as Openshaw converted a 38-yard field goal with 2:13 left before half. Pinero answered with a 42-yarder of his own as the half ran out.

Florida snuffed out a Vanderbilt first-quarter drive when cornerback Jalen Tabor picked quarterback Kyle Shurmur at the Gators 32.

Shurmur left the game midway through the fourth quarter with an apparent lower-body injury, and was spotted limping to the locker room.

NOTES: Nashville Mayor Megan Barry carried Vanderbilt's anchor out of the tunnel in pregame ceremonies. ... Vanderbilt starting ILB Nigel Bowden missed his second straight game due to injury. Commodores starting LG Delando Crooks also missed Saturday's game with injury. ... Florida starting DL Joey Ivie (thumb) was held out, and backup LB Jordan Moon (hand surgery) also missed the game.