Mistakes plague Vanderbilt football in 36-20 loss to Wake Forest
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Just like a year ago, Vanderbilt football played well for flashes against Wake Forest. But a high number of mistakes, including turnovers, penalties and fourth-down failures, plagued the Commodores on Saturday.
The game featured a two-hour delay due to lightning after just 2:01 had elapsed, but even before the stoppage in play, AJ Swann threw an interception just 1:30 into the game. The sloppiness continued after halftime, with Vanderbilt (2-1) gifting the Demon Deacons free yards and points as Wake Forest (2-0) won 36-20 at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.
Though the Commodores outgained Wake Forest on a per-play basis, the Demon Deacons ran far more plays due to the turnovers and also scored a touchdown on a fumble during a Vanderbilt punt return.
Turnovers
Vanderbilt turned the ball over three times in the first half, directly leading to 10 points for Wake Forest. On the Commodores' first drive, Swann threw an interception returned to Vanderbilt's 10-yard line that eventually led to a Wake Forest field goal.
The other two turnovers came later in the first half. One was on a punt that Will Sheppard fumbled during the return and the Demon Deacons returned for a touchdown. The other came at the end of the half when Swann threw another interception, though that one did not lead to points when Wake Forest missed a field goal to end the half.
Ups and downs on the defense
The defense had periods of good play but also some stretches full of mistakes.
During one drive, BJ Anderson was called for two pass interference penalties, including one on 3rd-and-19, and the defense was called for having 12 players on the field as Wake Forest marched down the field for a touchdown.
CJ Taylor had two solo sacks and forced a fumble, proving to be by far the defense's top performer in the game. De'Rickey Wright recovered the fumble, which was at the goal line following a 74-yard run.
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Fourth-down fails
Vanderbilt failed on two key fourth downs: one on its first drive of the fourth quarter where it failed to punch the ball in on three straight tries from the one-yard line and another at the start of the fourth quarter when Sheppard was ruled to have not completed a catch upon review after the play was originally ruled a first down.
During earlier downs in both situations, poor snaps resulted in lost yardage for the Commodores.
Between those two plays and the two offensive turnovers, it was a day full of mistakes. But the Commodores' offense also had stretches of playing well. The wide receivers, in particular, showed out with London Humphreys finishing with 109 yards and a touchdown.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt football has three turnovers, loses to Wake Forest
