VU falls to Wake Forest 23-10

Vanderbilt missed a chance to finish the regular season with a winning record by falling 23-10 at Wake Forest on Saturday.

VU trailed 10-3 at halftime. Wake's Brandon Pendergrass scored a 6-yard touchdown and Sam Swank kicked a field goal for the Demon Deacons' points. Bryant Hahnfeldt's 33-yard field goal gave VU its only points of the first half.

VU (6-6) played both Chris Nickson and Mackenzi Adams at quarterback and Larry Smith, considered to be the QB of the future for the 'Dores, got in the game in the third quarter. Smith threw to Brandon Barden for a five-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 17-10 in the third. But Rich Belton's four-yard touchdown run sealed it for Wake.

Smith was 9-of-17 for 46 yards and a touchdown.

Now Vanderbilt will have to sit and wait to find out where it is headed for a bowl game.