The Best of 2012: Offensive Play
Dec. 11, 2012
The team finished the regular season with an 8-4 record and is bound for the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl on Dec. 31. To relive some of the excitement from the 2012 regular season, VUCommodores will spend this week reflecting back on the season that was with a Best of 2012. Each day a new category will be available to vote on by fans. The polls will be open throughout the week and the final votes will be tabulated and announced on Monday, Dec. 17. Tuesday's category is "Best Offensive Play." There were a slew of outstanding offensive plays throughout the year, and we've done our best to narrow it down to a nice round number of nine. Monday: Best Uniform Combination Tuesday: Best Offensive Play Wednesday: Best Defensive Play Thursday: Best "We-Fense" Play Friday: Best of the Rest Best Offensive Play Stacy Bulldozes Defender and Runs Out Clock at Missouri Holding on to a four-point lead at Missouri, Vanderbilt faced a critical third-and-9 from its own 26-yard line. Instead of going to the air, Vanderbilt turned to Zac Stacy, who took the carry, broke a tackle to get the first down and slid down inbounds to avoid stopping the clock. Vanderbilt would subsequently take a knee to run out the clock and secure its first road SEC win under James Franklin.  Watch
Stacy Breaks Career Rushing Record Against Auburn Frank Mordica's career rushing record had stood since 1979, but on Oct. 20, the record belonged to Zac Stacy. With 4:41 to play in the fourth quarter against Auburn, Stacy lined up in the Wildcat formation and took a direct snap, carrying it around the left side of the line for 27 yards up to the Vanderbilt 46. Stacy received a loud ovation from the crowd following his accomplishment and was carried off the field by his teammates after the game. Watch
Rodgers Keeps Game-Winning Drive Alive at Ole Miss Trailing, 26-20, with just 1:49 to play at Ole Miss, Vanderbilt's chances of a comeback came down to one play. Faced with a fourth-and-2 at its own 46-yard line, Jordan Rodgers dropped back to pass. Under duress, Rodgers escaped a would-be-tackler and scrambled for a three-yard gain and a first down. Watch
Rodgers Connects with Boyd for Game-Winning Touchdown at Ole Miss Trailing by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, Vanderbilt staged a furious comeback at Ole Miss that ended with Jordan Rodgers connecting with Chris Boyd for a game-winning touchdown pass from 26 yards out with just 52 seconds to play. The touchdown gave Vanderbilt its first lead of the game and secured the Commodores' sixth win of the season. Watch
Boyd Makes Remarkable Catch Against Tennessee On third-and-4 from the Tennessee 11-yard line, Jordan Rodgers looked for Chris Boyd in the corner of the end zone. The pass was deflected by Tennessee defensive back Marsalis Teague, but Boyd did not give up on the ball, maintained his concentration and reeled in the deflected pass all while ensuring he got not just one, but two feet inbounds. ESPN selected the catch as its No. 1 play of the day on SportsCenter. Watch
Matthews Takes End Around to the House Against Tennessee Holding a three-point lead at the start of the second half, Vanderbilt scored on its opening drive of the third quarter when Jordan Matthews raced into the end zone from 47 yards out on an end around. It was Matthews' first rushing touchdown of his career and gave the Commodores a 20-10 lead. Watch
Tate Tosses Jump Pass to Kentera Against Tennessee Vanderbilt reached into its bag of tricks to open the flood gates against Tennessee. Faced with a second-and-goal from the Tennessee three-yard line, Wesley Tate lined up in the Wildcat, took a few steps, leapt high into the air and lofted a pass above the defenders and into the hands of Kris Kentera, who was wide open in the back of the end zone. Watch
Matthews Goes Over the Middle to Snag Rodgers' Pass for 64-Yard TD at Wake Forest On a pass that first appeared to be short of its intended target, Jordan Matthews seemingly came out of nowhere to snag the ball out of the air and take it the rest of the way for a 64-yard touchdown at Wake Forest. The touchdown made the score 21-7 Commodores and gave Matthews the school record for single-season receiving yards. Watch
Stacy's 90-Yard Run at Wake Forest Zac Stacy's final carry of the regular season was the longest in school history and pushed Stacy over 1,000 yards rushing for the second straight season - a first by a Vanderbilt player. With a little more than nine minutes remaining in the game at Wake Forest, Stacy took a handoff up the middle and went 90 yards for the touchdown. Watch
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