Commodores Lead Early, Collapse and Fall To Kentucky 38-14

It was a valient effort, particularly in the first half, but the Wildcats were too much in the final three quarters.

The first quarter was exactly what Vanderbilt needed as they hosted the Kentucky Wildcats this afternoon, but unfortunatley for the Commodores, they had to play the other three quarters as well.

An  opening drive field goal gave Kentucky a short lived lead as the Commodores took the ensuing drive 75 yards to the endzone  as Ke"Shawn Vaughn cashed it in on a five yard touchdown run. 

On the next WIldcat possession, Vanderbilt's Andre Mintz stripped the football from Kentuky running back Asim Rose at the Vanderbilt 27 yard line where teamamte Allan Gerogre recovered and returned it 67 yards to give the Commodores  a 14-3 first quarter advantage. 

It was exactly what the Commodores needed, a fast start and a big break going their way. 

Unfortunatley for Mason and his Commdores, the Wildcats were just getting started. 

Receiver turned quarterback Lynn Bowden Jr. lead three scoring drives, all of 75 yards or more in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 24-14 halftime advantage. 

Through two quarters the Kentucky offense marched up and down the field, gaining 319 yards before the intermission. Only 40 of those yards came from the arm of Bowden Jr. 

But then why throw the football when you can run it almost at will. 

His counterpart, Commodores quarterback Riley Neal completed on of five pass attempts for 2 yards in the first half while receiver Cam Johnson managed as many completions on his lone attempt for 16 yard. 

No one expected the Vanderbilt passing game to set recrods, but the first half futility was staggering. 

Things got no better for the Commodores in the third quarter as Bowden and his offensive mates picked up right where they left off before half, driving 75 and 72 yards on back-to-back possessions, both of which ended in touchdowns and ending any reamining hope the Commodores might have held. 

The Wildcats attempted just 10 passes through the first three quarters, yet managed to destroy the Commodores defense to the tune of 486 yards at the end of the third quarter. 

Entering the fourth, Bowden Jr. had completed 8 of 10 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.  He also ran for 110 yards and a score in that same time frame.

Running back Chris Rodriguez also topped the century mark in just three quarters, carrying for 113 yards and two scores on 13 carries. 

Conversely, through three quarters Neal was 1 of 6 for 2 yards and an interception for Vanderbilt. 

In the end, the Wildcats finished with 528 yards in total offense, 401 of that on the ground with another 127 through the air. 

Kentucky outgained Vanderbilt 127 to 90 in passing yards as the Wildcats take another step toward bowl eligibility with a 38-14 win over Vanderbilt. 

The Commodores return to action next Saturday as the host East Tennessee State University in their final home game of the season before concluding things two in weeks against Tennessee in  Knoxville.