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Larry Smith ran for a touchdown, and Trey Wilson returned one of his two interceptions for a 52-yard TD as Vanderbilt scored 21 straight in the second quarter and beat Mississippi 30-7 Saturday in making James Franklin the first new Commodores coach to start 3-0 since World War II.
The win marks Vanderbilt's first 3-0 start since 2008 when the Commodores won their first bowl since 1955. The Commodores also beat Mississippi (1-2) in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams for their fifth win in seven years in this series.
Vanderbilt picked off five passes, all off Zack Stoudt, and Wilson's interception return for a TD is the Commodores' third this season.
The Commodores outgained Ole Miss 387-234 in total offense. Jerron Seymour's 9-yard TD run capped the second-quarter scoring for Vandy, and Zac Stacy also ran for 169 yards, including a 77-yard TD run.
Wayne Dorsey had one of the Rebels' two sacks and also caused a fumble, one of three turnovers forced by Ole Miss.
Ole Miss looked disorganized and kept hurting itself as three different offensive linemen false-started. One false start ruined a chance at fourth-and-1 at the Vandy 40. The Rebels then had to use a timeout with only 10 men on the field before punting.
Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt stuck with Stoudt, though he did play Randall Mackey. Stoudt came through with a 47-yard TD pass to Donte Moncrief with 2:15 left to avoid being shut out by Vandy for the first time since 1946.
The Commodores got going late in the second and took control.
Stacy picked up 26 yards after Smith handed the ball off to the running back using his left, non-throwing hand, almost directly behind him in a bit of nice misdirection. Smith finished off the drive on an option keeper for 19 yards and a 7-0 lead with 5:40 left in the second quarter.
Nutt rotated Stoudt back in on the next series. Facing third-and-15, defensive end Walker May hurried Stoudt into a throw that went straight to Wilson, and the Vanderbilt cornerback ran it back up the left sideline for a 14-0 lead with 4:39 remaining. It was Wilson's second TD off an interception this season and the third overall for Vanderbilt - the first time the Commodores have had three of those in a season.
After another Ole Miss three-and-out, Seymour pushed his way in to finish off a 9-yard TD and a 21-0 lead that had Commodores' fans celebrating a rare early lead.
The Commodores picked up the scoring early in the third when a bad snap went over Stoudt's head on the opening series. Scott kicked it through the end zone for a safety and a 23-0 lead. The rout could have been worse. Stacy tried to throw to Smith in the end zone only to be picked off by Marcus Temple after the safety.
