Vanderbilt survives Charleston Southern

Vanderbilt added another spin to its quarterback carousel and survived a midseason scare for a 21-20 win over Charleston Southern on Saturday.

The Commodores (2-5) snapped their three-game losing streak with a nail-biter over a previously unbeaten Football Championship Subdivision foe amid a homecoming crowd of 26,738 at Vanderbilt Stadium.

"It was not pretty, but a win's a win," Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said. "… Nobody really looks at a win a week from now, two days from now or even tomorrow, to say whether or not it should be wrapped with a bow and then we all sit back and start crying. It's a win."

Vanderbilt held a 21-10 halftime lead and did not score in the second half. Charleston Southern (5-1) pushed the Commodores to the brink, but Vanderbilt got a timely defensive stop and followed with a clock-eating 11-play, 63-yard drive late in the fourth quarter.

"This game finished the way we needed it to finish," Mason said. "… That's what we need to build off of over the next two weeks. That's who we are, that last defensive stop and that last (offensive) drive. We have to stay in that mode."

Vanderbilt's quarterback situation was just as complicated as it has been all season.

Sophomore Patton Robinette missed a third straight game with a concussion. LSU graduate transfer Stephen Rivers wore a walking boot on his left foot on the sideline and did not suit up. Mason said Rivers injured his ankle during practice late in the week.

Freshman Wade Freebeck received his third straight start, and fourth overall, but did not last long. Redshirt freshman Johnny McCrary replaced him, provided a short-lived spark and then held the position the rest of the game.

Mason said he hopes Robinette is back for Vanderbilt's Oct. 25 game at Missouri following a bye week.

With Freebeck initially under center, Vanderbilt marched 39 yards on its opening drive to set up Tommy Openshaw's 39-yard field goal and post a 3-0 lead that held through the end of the quarter. It marked only the Commodores' second lead through one quarter this season, but it lasted just seven seconds into the second quarter when Charleston Southern made a 23-yard field goal to tie it 3-3.

After back-to-back lackluster drives, Freebeck was pulled and replaced by McCrary, who had not played since tossing two interceptions in three attempts in a season-opening loss to Temple.

McCrary's first throw was a 65-yard touchdown to C.J. Duncan, who broke open on a blown coverage and play-action fake.

"It was a normal play, but he was so wide open," McCrary said. "I was like, 'It is made to happen.' So I just threw it up.

"… He caught the ball, and it was amazing. It's breathtaking when you see one of your best wide receivers catch it, and you celebrate with your linemen and go to the sideline and everybody is happy."

McCrary finished 10-of-16 for 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Duncan had a seven catches for 119 yards, both career-high marks.

Taurean Ferguson then picked off a Charleston Southern pass, and Vanderbilt's offense rode running back Dallas Rivers into the end zone for an 8-yard scoring run. Holder Taylor Hudson completed a pass to long-snapper Andrew East on a trick play for the two-point conversion and an 18-3 lead.

Charleston Southern tightened it up just before halftime as Larenzo Mathis blocked a Vanderbilt punt, scooped up the ball and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown with 36 seconds left. The Commodores countered with Openshaw's 42-yard field goal on the final play for a 21-10 halftime lead.

Charleston Southern reeled off a 10-play, 78-yard drive, capped by Zachary Frazier's 10-yard touchdown run to trim Vanderbilt's lead to 21-17 with 5:56 remaining the third quarter.

Charleston Southern followed that with a nine-play, 79-yard drive, sparked by Austin Brown's 59-yard pass to Mike Holloway on a wheel route.

David Kennedy's 30-yard field goal cut Vanderbilt's lead to 21-20. McCrary then tossed an interception on the Commodores' next series, but Vanderbilt's defense forced a Charleston Southern punt.

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.