Vanderbilt football clobbers Hawaii in historic season-opening rout
Vanderbilt football allowed a touchdown on its first drive to Hawaii in Saturday's season opener, and it looked like the Commodores might again be in store for another long game — and, worse, a season.
But that touchdown was the outlier during one of the most lopsided Vanderbilt victories since World War II, as the Commodores clamped down and hit the gas pedal in a 63-10 drubbing of the Rainbow Warriors to kick off Year Two under Clark Lea.
The game marked Vanderbilt's largest margin of victory since a 58-0 win over FCS Presbyterian in 2012 and its most points scored against an FBS opponent since beating Louisville 68-0 in 1941.
It was such a blowout that freshmen and backups came in by the fourth quarter, including the first appearance for freshman QB AJ Swann.
Starting quarterback Mike Wright shined in all facets. Through three quarters, he was 13-for-21 for 146 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 163 yards and two more TDs. He was the first Vanderbilt player to have multiple rushing and passing touchdowns in the same game since 1996.
Vanderbilt racked up 601 total yards, including 404 rushing.
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Ground and pound
Vanderbilt found most of its success in the run game, particularly with Wright, who flummoxed Hawaii all game long to help open up the pass. Sophomore Quincy Skinner and freshman Jayden McGowan were Wright's preferred receivers, but the tight ends also got involved in the passing game.
Out of halftime, the Commodores called three straight rushes, all of which went for double digit yards and led to a touchdown in 56 seconds.
Vanderbilt continued to run the ball down Hawaii's throat in the third quarter. Re'Mahn Davis finished with 87 yards and a TD, and Rocko Griffin (1 TD) and Chase Gillespie each had 63 yards.
Momentum swing
Hawaii started out fast, marching downfield and scoring a touchdown on the first drive. Vanderbilt stunted itself on the first few drives with penalties, but the Commodores finally found the end zone as the first quarter wound down thanks to a 34-yard rush from Griffin and a Wright pass to a wide-open Will Sheppard.
On the Rainbow Warriors' next play, redshirt senior safety Max Worship forced a fumble and senior linebacker Anfernee Orji ran it back for a touchdown, putting Vanderbilt up by a TD going into the second quarter.
The Commodores picked up a second scoop-and-score in the third quarter, forced by Elijah McAllister and recovered by CJ Taylor. Vanderbilt didn't have a fumble return for a touchdown all of last season.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mike Wright, Vanderbilt football pounds Hawaii in season opener
