The Bucs concluded their 2019 season on the road at Vanderbilt on Saturday. A solid start for the Bucs was halted by Vanderbilt as the Commodores shut out the Bucs 38-0. The Bucs finish the season 3-9 and 1-7 in the Southern Conference.
The Bucs had a strong showing in their first possession but were unable to turn it into points. The Commodores got on the board in their first drive, in just seven plays driving down the field for 63 and capping it off with a pass from quarterback Riley Neel to Jared Pinkney.
The Bucs were in field goal position but the Commodores blocked the kick. Vanderbilt capped off a nine play drive with 86 yards and a two-yard rush by Ke’Shawn Vaughn, to close out the half with a two touchdown score.
The Commodores got the ball first at halftime and didn’t take long to find the endzone once again when Vaughn ran it in for 75-yard on the first play of the drive.
Vanderbilt still had momentum on their side, stopping the passing game, allowing only one complete pass in the second half. After redshirt sophomore running back Quay Holmes (Powder Springs, Georgia) record breaking game last week against Mercer, the Commodores halted the running game to only 37 yards.
The Commodores scored a40-yard field goal by Ryley Guay and another score coming from Neel to Pinkney once again for a seven-yard touchdown at the end of the third.
Vanderbilt found the endzone for the final time in the last two minutes of the game with a 31-yard run by Mitchell Pryor.
Despite the loss, head coach Randy Sanders still believed his team did well. “Our guys fought, they competed,” said Sanders.
“We got a young team and got some holes to fill,” said Sanders, with a few seniors leaving and half of the experience of the team consisting of underclassmen.
