How Vanderbilt beat Western Kentucky 31-17

Vanderbilt beat reporter Adam Sparks' blog of the Commodores' home game versus Western Kentucky.

FINAL

Vanderbilt beat Western Kentucky 31-17 to snap a five-game losing streak. The Commodores improved to 4-5 overall, including a 4-0 mark in non-conference play, in front of an announced home crowd of 26,350. WKU fell to 5-4 on the season.

Ralph Webb rushed for 103 yards and one TD on 23 carries. Kyle Shurmur was 14-of-21 for 220 yards, two TDs and no interceptions. Trent Sherfield and Trey Ellis each caught a TD pass.

FOURTH QUARTER

Vandy: Ryan White intercepts White's pass to finish off win.

WKU: Fourth-down pass fails, but safety Tre Herndon flagged for pass interference.

Vandy: Punt on fourth-and-inches.

WKU: White completes three straight passes for 23 yards ...  Vandy CB Joejuan Williams makes tackle for 6-yard loss ... White hits Fant on crossing route for 28-yard gain ... WKU fails to convert on fourth down at the 20-yard line.

Vandy: Webb 9-yard run ... Webb 7-yard run ... Shurmur to Caleb Scott for 18-yard pass ... Webb no gain ... Jamauri Wakefield for minus-1 yard ... Shurmur run comes up short ... Tommy Openshaw makes 39-yard field goal. Vandy 31, WKU 17

WKU: White is sacked by Dayo Odeyingbo on final play of third quarter. (first career sack by Odeyingbo) ... Punt.

THIRD QUARTER

Vandy: Trent Sherfield runs 45 yards on a reverse. Vandy 28, WKU 17.

WKU: Offense stalls. But punt hits Vandy DB Frank Coppet, who was blocking on the play, on foot, and WKU recovers to take possession ... White to Fant pass for 6 yards converts on fourth-and-2 to keep drive alive ... WKU goes for it on another fourth down, but White's pass on fourth-and-7 falls incomplete. Vandy takes over at its own 35.

Vandy: Three and out. Punt

WKU: White completes five straight passes for 43 yards ... Another pass to Fant puts WKU inside the Vandy 20 ... WKU failed to convert on fourth down, but the play is negated by Vandy offsides penalty ... Vandy's' LaDarius Wiley makes big tackle for 3-yard loss ... Ryan Nuss 29-yard field goal. Vandy 21, WKU 17.

HALFTIME STATS

WKU: 196 total yards

White 12-of-18 passing for 164 yards.

Ferby 4 carries, 9 rushing yards

Jackson 2 rec., 88 receiving yards

Vandy: 270 total yards

Shurmur 12-of-19 passing for 182 yards, 2 TD

Webb 15 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD

Sherfield 5 rec., 82 receiving yards, 1 TD

SECOND QUARTER

Vandy: Shurmur completes three straight passes to Lipscomb for 12 yards, Dobbs for 15 yards and Duncan for 5 yards ... Shurmur's pass ricocheted off one receiver and landed in hands of Trey Ellis for 31-yard TD pass. It was Ellis' first career TD. Vanderbilt 21, WKU 14.

WKU: White connects with Jackson for 54-yard pass ... Mike White rushes for 3-yard TD. Vandy 14, WKU 14. Hilltoppers drove 82 yards on eight plays for the score.

Vandy: Shurmur to Sherfield for 15-yard pass moves ball near midfield ... Failed screen pass on third down forces punt. Sam Loy punts 33 yards.

WKU: QB Mike White converts fourth-and-1 with a 3-yard run ... Drive stalls.

Vandy: WKU sack forces punt.

WKU: Vandy linebacker Charles Wright drops White for a sack to force a punt.

FIRST QUARTER

Vandy: Shurmur to Marcus for 15 yards ... Shurmur to Sherfield for 30-yard pass ... Ralph Webb scores on 8-yard run. Vandy 14, WKU 7. Ralph Webb has 10 carries for 51 yards. Shurmur is 6-of-8 for 86 yards and one TD.

WKU: White hits Jackson for 34-yard pass. White tosses lateral to Fant, who passes to Quinton Baker for a 25-yard TD pass on a trick play. Vandy 7, WKU 7.

Vandy: Punt

WKU: Hilltoppers go three-and-out with only 2 yards gained. Punt.

Vandy: Ralph Webb gained 13 yards to push the ball near midfield. ... Shurmur's 15-yard pass to Trent Sherfield keeps the drive moving ... Tight end Sam Dobbs takes a hand-off in jet sweep motion for an 18-yard run ... Kyle Shurmur to Jared Pinkney 11-yard pass ... Shurmur to Trent Sherfield for 4-yard TD pass. Vanderbilt 7, WKU 0. Drive went 75 yards in 11 plays. Shurmur was 4-for-4 for 41 yards on opening possession.

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PREGAME NOTES

Vanderbilt running backs Ralph Webb and Khari Blasingame are both dressed out for today's game. They both left last week's loss to South Carolina due to injuries.

VANDERBILT (3-5, 0-5 SEC) VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY (5-3, 3-2 C-USA)

When: 11 a.m. Saturday

TV/Radio: ESPNU/1510 AM, 98.3 FM

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