Vanderbilt Commodores vs Northwestern Wildcats Match Player Stats On Sep 08, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 8, 2012

Northwestern 23, Vanderbilt 13: Venric Mark ran for 123 yards and Jeff Budzien booted the go-ahead field goal from 18 yards with 2:01 remaining as the Wildcats outlasted the visiting Commodores.

The Wildcats defense, which held Vanderbilt to three second-half points, forced a fumble by quarterback Jordan Rodgers on the first play after the ensuing kickoff and recovered. Quarterback Kain Colter sealed it with a 29-yard touchdown run on third and 19 with 1:24 left.

Mark capped an 86-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run up the middle with 9:28 remaining to put Northwestern up 13-10. However, the Commodores (1-1) responded with 26-yard field goal by Casey Spear to tie it with 5:21 left.

Northwestern (2-0) allowed 470 yards passing to Syracuse in its opener, but gave up just 217 to Rodgers จC 86 in the second half. Vandyกฏs Jordan Matthews had 75 yards receiving, nine in the second half.

Vanderbilt took the opening kickoff and drove 77 yards in 13 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Rodgers hit Matthews across the middle for 22 yards and a score with 10:11 left in the first quarter.

Rodgers had 201 yards of total offense as the Commodores took a 10-3 lead into halftime, thanks to Spearกฏs 32-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Vanderbilt could have increased their lead, but Rodgers fumbled at the Northwestern 19 with 40 seconds left in the half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Northwestern, starting its first four-game home stand since 1934, took a 2-1-1 lead in the series. กญ Vanderbiltกฏs top running back Zac Stacy was held to 36 yards rushing. กญ Vanderbilt had its four-game win streak against non-conference teams snapped.