MTSU upsets Vanderbilt

Posted 8:09AM on Sunday 13th October 2002 ( 22 years ago )

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Middle Tennessee State had high hopes for both its season and star running back Dwone Hicks. The Blue Raiders printed up Hicks-for-Heisman brochures and scheduled four Southeastern Conference teams on the road. Then Hicks got hurt in the third game and the Blue Raiders lost their first five games, their worst start since 1980. The sting of both was eased a bit Saturday when Hicks scored with 52 seconds left to lift the Blue Raiders to a 21-20 victory over Vanderbilt. ``This feels good because they're right down the street from us,'' said Hicks, who was not expected to play but entered the game in the second quarter and gained 42 yards on 10 carries, including the game winner from 2 yards out. ``Bragging rights for the year is always good.'' Hicks' touchdown capped a 53-yard drive aided by two of Vanderbilt's season-high 14 penalties. ``We did a poor job keeping our composure. We did a poor job executing. We did not deserve to win,'' said Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson. ``To tell you the truth, I'm embarrassed about the penalties.'' Hicks' touchdown dive gave the Blue Raiders (1-5) their first victory of the season and second straight against the Commodores (1-5). ``The penalties killed us,'' said Vanderbilt defensive end Jovan Haye. Vanderbilt had taken the lead moments before Hicks' winning dive thanks to a bizarre break on a punt. Vandy's Greg Johnson hit a poor kick, a short, low liner from midfield. But it hit an unsuspecting MTSU up-back on the foot as he was blocking, and rolled down to the Blue Raiders 2 yard line, where Vanderbilt recovered. Benji Walker, playing in place of the suspended Jay Cutler, scored on a bootleg two plays later to give the Commodores a 20-14 lead with 8.5 minutes left. ``I didn't think the ball hit the guy,'' said MTSU coach Andy McCollum. ``But it could have hit him square in the head and I wouldn't have thought it hit him. ... That's where we could have folded, but we came right back.'' ReShard Lee carried the load for the Blue Raiders with 144 yards on 20 carries. Andrico Hines completed 8 of 17 passes for 82 yards with one interception, but scored twice on runs. Walker led Vanderbilt with 79 yards on 15 carries but was intercepted twice. Kwane Doster, subbing for Vanderbilt's injured leading rusher Norval McKenzie, added 77 yards on 18 carries. Early on, Walker drove the Commodores downfield on their opening possession to a first-and-goal at the MTSU 4. But Vanderbilt was penalized twice in the next two plays and settled for Johnson's 18-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. Hines and the Blue Raiders answered with an 80-yard drive in 12 plays, aided by three more Vanderbilt penalties two for first downs to take a 7-3 lead on Hines' 5-yard option keeper. Starting from its own 17 late in the second quarter, MTSU used a 27-yard run by Lee, a 17-yard pass from Hines to Chris Henry and runs of 13 and 12 yards by Hines, the last to score, for a 14-3 lead at the half. Vanderbilt pulled to 14-10 on Doster's 11-yard touchdown run to cap an 85-yard drive to open the second half.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/10/188964