Sep 23, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) celebrates with quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) after a touchdown during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Top-seeded Alabama generally wins football games because it’s bigger, stronger, faster and more prepared than its opponents. Those, and a phenomenal rushing attack, were the reasons the Crimson Tide went to Vanderbilt Stadium and pounded the Commodores 59-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Running back Damien Harris rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns as the Crimson Tide lit up the nation’s No. 1 defense for 677 yards while holding the Commodores to just 78.
Fresh off an upset of then-No. 18 Kansas State last week, the Commodores were overmatched from the beginning. Vanderbilt had more penalties (five) than first downs (three).
Leading by 31 points at halftime, the Crimson Tide went for the throat in the third quarter.
Harris scored his third touchdown on a 2-yard run and true freshman backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes to make it 52-0.
After an first-quarter exchange of punts, Alabama took over in Vanderbilt territory and running back Bo Scarbrough dashed around left tackle for a 6-yard touchdown run, the point-after putting the Crimson Tide up 7-0.
After another Vandy punt, Damien Harris dashed 61 yards through the left side of the defense on the drive’s second play, with kicker Andy Pappanastos’s PAT giving the Tide a 14-0 advantage.
On the Commodores’ next offensive snap, Khari Blasingame coughed it up and Alabama defense end Da’Shawn Hand recovered at the Vandy 26.
On a third-and-goal play from the 2 and the Crimson Tide in a jumbo formation, Harris easily dove in from 2 yards out to make it 21-0 with 42 seconds left in the first quarter.
Scarbrough added his second touchdown of the first half when he dashed over on a third-and-goal play from the 2-yard line with 9:09 left in the first half.
Pappanastos added a 22-yard field goal with 1:18 left in the second quarter.
Alabama had a 323-49 edge in total offense at the break, and had 19 first downs to Vanderbilt’s two.
NOTES: Vanderbilt was without a pair of veteran reserve cornerbacks on Saturday. Taurean Ferguson missed his fourth straight game with what’s been termed an indefinite suspension, and Bryce Lewis was not dressed due to an undisclosed injury. … The Commodores had given up 13 total points in three games, but allowed 21 in the first quarter on Saturday. … Alabama S Ronnie Harrison had a first-quarter interception on a ball off the hands of Vandy TE Jared Pinkney. It was the first interception that Commodores QB Kyle Shurmur had thrown this season.
