Dismal offense costs Vandy again

NASHVILLE-- Quarterback Jevan Snead passed 237 yards and three touchdowns as Ole Miss topped Vanderbilt, 23-7. Meanwhile the Rebel defense limited Vanderbilt to just 240 of total offense. The Commodores have managed just 19 points in 12 quarters of SEC play.

Ole Miss wasted no time driving to the Vanderbilt 3 before the Rebels were forced to settle on a Joshua Shene 20-yard field goal.

Early in the second quarter, Snead and his teammates struck again as the Rebels marched 80 yards in 15 plays before Snead found Shay Hodge for a 2-yard score.

Later in the second quarter, after Vanderbilt missed a field goal, the Rebel offense struck again. This time Snead led his team 71 yards in just 8 plays. A wide open Brandon Bolden caught a 12-yard pass to put the Rebs up, 17-0, at the half.

In the third quarter Hodge caught his second touchdown pass of the night, this time from seven yards. However, the extra point attempt was blocked by Vanderbilt so the score remained 23-0. Hodge finished with eight receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Late in the third quarter Vanderbilt finally got on the board when Larry Smith completed a 7-yard pass to a leaping Udom Umoh in the end zone to make the score 23-7. Smith struggled in the first half and had no receptions in nine passing attempts. He finished with 10-of-27 completions for 69 yards, the touchdown and an interception.

Despite only scoring seven points the Commodore offense had their chances. Ryan Fowler missed two field goals in the first half and in the second half Vanderbilt twice advanced to inside the Ole Miss 10-yard-line only to come up empty. The Vanderbilt offense hindered throughout the game with poor execution and penalties. A frustrated head coach Bobby Johnson commented on the poor performance after the game, "I don’t know the last game that had so many penalties and errors committed by us. It was disheartening for the team and our fans. We have a lot of work to do and figure out some of the good things we did in the game and improve on it. We have to eliminate errors starting tomorrow.”

Vanderbilt freshman running back Warren Norman had 86 yards rushing including an electrifying 48-yard run in the fourth quarter. Myron Lewis, Casey Hayward and Jamie Graham all had interceptions for Vanderbilt.

The Commodores, 2-3 (0-3 SEC), will visit Army next. Army, also 2-3, fell to Tulane, 17-16, on Saturday as a last second Cadet field goal attempt missed its mark.