Blaze Berlowitz, Jared Curtis guide Vanderbilt to Week 1 win over Austin Peay
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The Vanderbilt Commodores are 1-0 on the season after a ho-hum win over Austin Peay Saturday night.
As Clark Lea said they would preseason, the Commodores utilized both Blaze Berlowitz and Jared Curtis under center Saturday night. Neither were particularly sharp against the Governors — Berlowitz totaled 149 yards on 11-of-16 completions while Curtis finished with 60 yards on 7-of-9 completions. Vanderbilt fans wanted to see more Curtis — which they demonstrated by booing Berlowitz as he came out to lead the Commodores out of the halftime break.
While the passing game left a little to be desired, Vanderbilt’s run game found consistent success in Week 1 — and that’s ultimately what won the Commodores the game. Sedrick Alexander led the way with 10 carries for 60 yards and 1 touchdown, while Berlowitz contributed 11 carries for 45 yards and a touchdown of his own.
To say this game was weird would be an understatement. At one point, the Governors led 6-5 following a Vanderbilt safety. The Commodores, struggling to move the ball, entered halftime leading 15-9.
Vanderbilt’s special teams got in on the bizarre action, too. The Commodores ended all hopes of an Austin Peay comeback with this “punt” return touchdown to start the 4th quarter:
Vanderbilt will be back in action next weekend against Delaware.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
