SEC Power Rankings, Week 11: Alabama back on top with big win vs LSU

Nov 7, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Johnny McCrary (2) drops back against the Florida Gators during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Vanderbilt Commodores did their very best to play the spoiler in the SEC East Saturday in Gainesville, but a poor Vandy offense couldn’t score enough to pull off a huge upset victory that would have held Florida out of the SEC Championship Game for another week and kept the Commodore’s own slim division title hopes alive.

Ralph Webb ran for 118 yards – including a 74-yard touchdown – on 22 carries. Take away the long TD, however, and the Commodores managed a pitiful 101 total yards on offense on 61 plays (1.7 yards per play). Andy also had only 11 first downs all game.

Quarterback Johnny McCrary threw for 30 yards on 3-for-14 passing, and 21 of those came on a 4th-and-25 play with 0:36 left on the clock. McCrary was also sacked five times, but on the bright side, Vandy did not turn the football over.

The Vanderbilt defense, which has been one of the stingiest in the SEC so far this season, forced four turnovers in the game, so the Commodores had plenty of opportunities to score. Vandy limited the Gators to 258 total yards – including only 94 rushing yards on 34 carries (2.7 yards per attempt) and 12 first downs, but couldn’t keep Florida out of field goal range following a short punt that set up the game-winning kick late in the fourth quarter.

Vanderbilt is still alive for a bowl berth, but the Commodores face a tough stretch of SEC opponents in their final three games. Following home games with Kentucky and Texas A&M, Vandy travels to Knoxville for the regular season finale against a hot Tennessee team.

Next Game: Saturday November 15 vs. Kentucky

Next: Kentucky