The magic continues: Vanderbilt takes down Auburn

A magical season for the 19th-ranked Commodores took another impressive turn Saturday with a 14-13 victory over 13th-ranked Auburn at sold-out and rocking Vanderbilt Stadium.

VU is 5-0 for the first time since 1943 and improved to 3-0 in Southeastern Conference play for only the third time in school history and the first time since 1950.

“This is for real,” wide receiver George Smith said. “This team is for real.”

Reserve quarterback Mackenzi Adams came off the bench in place of injured starter Chris Nickson and passed for 153 and rushed for a team-high 54 to help spark the Vanderbilt offense.

Adams’ 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Justin Wheeler in the third quarter gave the Commodores a 14-13 lead and proved to be the decisive score.

So excited by the victory were Vanderbilt fans that they called they team out of the locker room after the game for a final curtain call.

Even normally stoic VU coach Bobby Johnson confessed to being caught up in the emotion.

“I’m excited,” he said. “This is what coaches live for. I live to walk into the locker room and see how happy our players are. That’s what gets me excited.”

Once again, stubborn second-half defense by Vanderbilt made the difference, just as it has all season. Auburn gained only 82 yards of total offense after the third quarter after surging to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. The Tigers finished with 98 yards passing, their lowest output in two years.

The Commodores have shut out three consecutive opponents in the second half. VU has also trailed in all five games this season before rallying.

"You can't take anything away from Vanderbilt," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "I'm not going to make a bunch of excuses. They've played well all year long. They made plays."

Saturday’s victory was Vanderbilt’s first over Auburn since 1955.

“We’re 5-0. What more could you ask for,” VU linebacker Chris Marve said. “We’re doing big things, but we’ve put in the work to do these big things.

“People can think what they want to think. We just want to show the country we’re a different Vanderbilt.”

GOLD NUGGETS: Auburn is the highest-ranked team Vanderbilt has beaten at home since toppling No. 8 Florida in 1974... VU has won three straight SEC games in a season for the first time since 1991... Vanderbilt passed for a season-high 157 yards Saturday... VU wide receiver Justin Wheeler caught a career-high five passes for 52 yards... Linebacker Patrick Benoist had a team-high 13 tackles... VU wide receivers George Smith and Alex Washington played Saturday for the first time this season since overcoming injuries.