Vanderbilt 19, Eastern Kentucky 7

Posted 7:54PM on Saturday 23rd October 2004 ( 20 years ago )

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) It may not have been perfect, but to Vanderbilt any win is beautiful. Kwane Doster ran for 117 yards and Jay Cutler threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Vanderbilt outlasted Division I-AA Eastern Kentucky 19-7 Saturday before 16,500 fans. ``It was a good win, but it wasn't pretty,'' said Vanderbilt linebacker Moses Osemwegie. ``We made a lot of mistakes and we have a lot to improve on.'' Nevertheless, Vanderbilt was not penalized in the game. The Commodores (2-5) were outgained by the Colonels 460 yards to 366, but were able to keep Eastern Kentucky from converting after it passed midfield. ``I'm very pleased we survived that,'' said coach Bobby Johnson, whose team matched its victory total from each of his first two seasons at Vanderbilt. ``We did what we had to do and got the win. I think that's great for our program and great for our players.'' Cutler completed 15 of 21 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. It was his fifth straight game without an interception. He also rushed for 73 yards and a score. ``Offensively, we wanted to put up some more points, but well take it,'' Cutler said. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Eastern Kentucky (3-4). C.J. Hudson had 107 rushing yards and caught a 45-yard touchdown pass for the Colonels. Josh Greco completed 20 of 29 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown. Eastern Kentucky's last best chance ended when a fourth-down pass at the Vanderbilt 1 fell incomplete with just under six minutes left. Eastern Kentucky tight end Patrick Bugg dove for it, but when he rolled over the ball popped out. ``It looked like a touchdown,'' said Eastern Kentucky coach Danny Hope. ``There were some very tight calls in this game and they all went against us. It came down to a couple of plays and a couple of calls. But, it makes us stronger.'' The Commodores scored the final points on the opening drive of the third quarter, going 77 yards in 11 plays before Jeff Jennings ran in from a yard out. For the day, Eastern Kentucky penetrated the Vanderbilt 40 six times, but had just one touchdown to show for it. The Colonels missed two field goals and had a fumble at the Vanderbilt 35. Cutler ran 55 yards for a touchdown with 10:44 remaining in the first half to give the Commodores a 13-7 lead. Cutler faked an option pitch to the right and sprinted through the Eastern Kentucky secondary for the longest touchdown of the season for the Commodores. Cutler put Vanderbilt up 6-0 with a 4-yard pass to Brandon Smith in the first quarter. Vanderbilt missed two PATs. The Colonels' only score of the first half was a 45-yard touchdown catch and run by Hudson on a screen pass. That gave EKU a short-lived 7-6 lead.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/10/149247