Vandy sneaks by Connecticut

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Posted 8:06AM on Sunday, October 27, 2002

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson says each week his wife asks him to put away his opponent in the first quarter so she doesn't have to worry. Catherine Johnson had plenty to worry about Saturday. Jay Cutler scored his second touchdown of the day with 1:14 remaining to propel Vanderbilt past Connecticut 28-24. It was Vanderbilt's first victory over a Division I-A opponent since Bobby Johnson became coach. ``I would love to (put a game away early),'' Johnson said. ``Today, we weren't able to do that.'' The Commodores (2-6) snapped a five-game losing streak while Connecticut (2-6) dropped its third straight game. Cutler completed 11 of 18 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 54 yards. Kwane Doster overcame two first-half fumbles and ran for 109 yards on 24 carries. Connecticut's Terry Caulley ran for 95 yards and a pair of 8-yard touchdowns, and Dan Orlovsky was 21-for-32 for 220 yards and a touchdown. Vanderbilt was forced to rally twice in the fourth quarter, as the Huskies took leads of 17-14 and 24-21. The Commodores were able to answer both times with touchdowns. ``We made the plays in the second half that we had to, especially in the fourth quarter,'' Johnson said. ``In order to win, we have to put ourselves in that position more often and today we got there.'' Connecticut led 24-21 and had the ball with 4:14 remaining, but Vanderbilt's defense forced the Huskies to punt from their own 5-yard line. An 11-yard punt return by Grant Brigham set up the Commodores' winning drive from the Connecticut 29-yard line. Cutler said rallying in the fourth quarter has been a problem in several games. ``We just can't close out games,'' Cutler said. ``Today, we got great field position. The defense did a great job down there.'' With 41 seconds remaining, Jonathan Shaub sealed the game with an interception. ``The coaches always tell us we have to step up and make the big play,'' Shaub said. ``It just happened to be me this week.'' Connecticut took a 24-21 lead with 6:56 to play when Orlovsky tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Collins. The play capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive. ``We just can't seem to get over the hump sometimes,'' said Connecticut coach Randy Edsall. ``We are getting closer and hopefully we will get one of these games in the fourth quarter.'' Vanderbilt opened the second half with a 76-yard touchdown drive. Capped with a 13-yard touchdown run by Cutler, the score gave Vanderbilt its first lead of the day, 14-10. The Huskies took a 10-7 halftime lead by taking advantage of a Vanderbilt miscue. A running-into-the-kicker penalty on Vanderbilt kept alive a Connecticut drive that ended with a 44-yard field goal by Marc Hickok with 47 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The penalty wasn't the only Vanderbilt mistake of the first half. The Commodores fumbled twice and missed a 46-yard field goal.