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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -
Warren Norman
ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns to lead Vanderbilt to a 45-0 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday night.
Norman, a freshman tailback, scored on runs of 2 and 9 yards. Fellow freshman
Zac Stacy
rushed for 133 yards on 20 attempts. Norman and Stacy are the first freshmen in Vanderbilt history to run for more than 100
yards in the same game.
It was the first time any two Commodore runners gained more than 100 yards in the same game since September 21, 2002, when
Kwane Doster
and
Norval McKenzie
did it in a loss to Mississippi.
Larry Smith
completed 10 of 18 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown before leaving the game with dehydration and cramps with three minutes
remaining in the third quarter. After starting Vanderbilt's Music City Bowl victory over Boston College last December, Smith
was named this season's starter by Commodores coach
Bobby Johnson
earlier in the week.
One of Johnson's reasons for selecting Smith, a redshirt sophomore, over
Mackenzi Adams
and
Jared Funk
was Smith's strong arm and ability to throw the ball downfield. Adams came into the game following Smith's injury, and Funk
played the final two series.
Smith found
Justin Green
on a 46-yeard touchdown pass to open the scoring. Green tipped the ball to himself at the goal line before corralling it in
the end zone.
The touchdown catch was Green's first. He had four receptions as a redshirt freshman in 2007, but failed to record a catch
in limited action as a sophomore last season.
Vanderbilt was the 117th-ranked offense in 2008, averaging just 256.2 yards per game, but the Commodores surpassed 300 yards
before halftime against Western Carolina.
Vanderbilt carried a 21-0 lead into halftime after touchdown runs by Norman and Stacy. Norman's 7-yard touchdown run capped
a five-play, 57-yard drive that took just 1:30. On the first play of the second quarter, Stacy's 9-yard touchdown concluded
an 80-yard drive that spanned 2:26.
Catamounts quarterback
Zack Jaynes
was 13-for-26 for 74 yards and one interception.
Michael Johnson
was the leading rusher with 46 yards on 13 carries.
Western Carolina has lost 20 of its past 21 road games. The Catamounts had won four of their previous five season openers
prior to Saturday.
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