Vanderbilt changes QBs again, loses again

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Vanderbilt tried a fourth starting quarterback but got the same result.

The Commodores (2-6, 0-5) remain winless in the Southeastern Conference after falling 24-14 to Missouri (6-2, 3-1) on Saturday.

Redshirt freshman Johnny McCrary, making his first career start, had the most productive day of any Vanderbilt quarterback this season. He was 17-of-31 passing for 196 yards, two touchdowns and one interception — setting single-game highs for Commodores' quarterbacks in completions, yards and TDs this season.

Coach Derek Mason was pleased with McCrary, but he stopped short on naming him the starter for next Saturday's home game against Old Dominion.

"I think Johnny McCrary is just continuing to get better every time he touches the grass. He has earned playing time," Mason said. "But what that looks like I'm not ready to commit to. I just know that he gives us a different dimension. He plays hard and does a great job. Johnny played well."

For the first time in an injury-plagued month, all four Vanderbilt quarterbacks were in uniform. Sophomore Patton Robinette, the season-opening starter, did not play, but he was suited up after missing three games with a concussion. Robinette and McCrary will be the likely candidates to start against Old Dominion.

McCrary connected on two TD passes that pulled Vanderbilt within three points. The Commodores marched 75 and 76 yards for the scores, the team's two longest TD drives of the season.

McCrary hit redshirt freshman tight end Nathan Marcus on a 9-yard TD pass with eight seconds remaining in the first half to trim Missouri's lead to 10-7. It was set up by a 25-yard pass to tight end Steven Scheu, who led Vanderbilt with six catches for 81 yards.

And in the fourth quarter, McCrary dropped a pass over the shoulder of C.J. Duncan for a 29-yard TD toss to cut the Tigers' lead to 17-14 with 6:53 remaining.

"(McCrary) played a heck of a game," Scheu said. "He managed the game and put the ball exactly where it needed to be."

McCrary also threw an interception on Vanderbilt's opening drive of the third quarter, but Missouri did not convert the turnover into points.

"I am pretty much living my dream," McCrary said. "Times like this are going to happen. I know this is not the best time at Vanderbilt, but I think we have the right tools to be successful. Later on, games like this won't happen because I'll play a lot better. I think we lost this game because of my bad decisions.

"… I think this season will define what type of people we really are at Vanderbilt. I think we have the right guys."

McCrary said his future status as starting quarterback is "up to the coaches."

Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk delivered the dagger, throwing a 25-yard TD pass to Bud Sasser with 2:05 remaining to put the game out of reach. Mauk finished 11-of-23 passing for 141 yards and two scores.

The Tigers outgained Vanderbilt 385-240. The biggest discrepancy came in rushing yards, where Vanderbilt ran for only 44 and Missouri had 244.

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