Nashville, Tenn. — With a dismal 2-9 record and 0-7 in Southeastern Conference play, there has not been many bright spots for the Vanderbilt football team this season.
On Senior Day at Vanderbilt Stadium, it was a familiar redshirt freshman who gave a brief spark to an ailing program.
With 2:25 left in the opening half, the Commodores took a 13-10 lead after former Somerset High School Briar Jumper standout John Cole made an acrobatic touchdown catch over Kentucky cornerback Trevard Lindley. Cole streaked down the right sideline, closely covered by Lindley. Vandy quarterback Mackenzi Adams threw the ball into the end zone, leaving Cole and Lindley airborne for the grab.
Like Cole had done so many times before during his prolific prep career as a receiver for the Jumpers, he got a hand on the ball and followed the loose pigskin as he fell on his back. And in a second effort, Cole came down with his first collegiate pass touchdown pass reception.
“The touchdown catch was a pump and I stuttered a little bit — I was fortunate to get on top of Trevard (Lindley),” Cole said. “I went up and got the ball, although it might have been the second time, but I got it.”
“In this league you go up against guys like Lindley every week, so it makes it sweet when you can (get you first touchdown reception) against someone of his caliber,” Cole explained.
At the Kentucky high school level, no one did it better than Cole, as the talented speedster holds the state record for single-season touchdown receptions with 28 and a career TD mark of 69. Cole also holds the state’s single-season receiving yardage record with 1,896 yards.
But all those accolades didn’t seem to impress his home state university a few years back, which gave Cole a little fire going into this game against the Wildcats.
“Yeah, I had some extra motivation in this game against Kentucky in the way they recruited me and the things that happened in the past,” Cole stated. “I was ready to play this game, to say the least.”
Cole’s second-quarter score capped off a perfect half for the freshman receiver, as he snagged all four passes thrown his way for a game-high 56 yards in receptions, at that point of the game. Even with the Wildcats’ top cornerback shadowing his every move, Cole was able to use his speed and sure hands in a productive opening half.
“I thought going into the locker room at halftime we were going to win, but I go into every game thinking we are going to win,” Cole said of his team’s halftime lead.
But things started to unravel for the Commodores in the second half, much like things have faltered for them all season long.
In the second half, Vanderbilt had only five yards in passing (thanks to Cole) and only 41 total offensive yards, as they watched the game slip away to the visiting Wildcats.
“It is very frustrating to not move the ball offensively after our defense has played as well as they have the majority of the year,” Cole summarized. “It’s tough not to give the defense the help they need because our offense has not been clicking.”
“Our running game was slowed down in the second half,” Cole continued. “In the first half, we went with a lot of ‘short unders’. We were able to complete several passes under the defense, and that opened up our running game. Inevitably, that opened up the long touchdown.
“Lindley played me pretty tight the whole game, because he is a good corner,” Cole said. “But we just missed on a few opportunities and I wasn’t targeted as much. We all need to get on the same page, be competitive and not want to lose. We really need that as a team.”
Despite another disappointing loss, Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson saw Cole’s first half performance as one positive from the game.
“Early on, John had some injury problems, but he is completely healthy now,” Johnson said. “I think he is confident and I think our quarterback is confident in him. He has been a good receiver for us, but he has not had a chance to show it because of all the injuries. It is good to see him excel out there and he will continue to get better. He’s just that kind of guy.”
Cole leads the Vanderbilt receiving core with 339 yards on 32 receptions. Cole had his first rushing TD against Rice on a 31-yard reverse play earlier in the season.
But Cole looks little into his individual numbers and more into the team’s overall psyche and recovery.
“We have got to dig deep and not look at the coaching staff for answers, but find the answers within ourselves,” Cole said. “We have got to have some motivation within ourselves to get back on the winning track.”
Cole and the Commodores will get one last chance to get on a winning track when they travel across the state to finish out the season with Tennessee next weekend.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Vanderbilt wide receiver John Cole (83) catches a touchdown pass as he is defended by Kentucky cornerback Trevard Lindley (32) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. The Tennessean, Samuel M. Simpkins
Cole shows Cats what they missed out on
- Local Sports
-
-
Trevor Herd signs with Union College
During his four years on the Somerset High School soccer team, Trevor Herd scored 50 goals and notched 13 assists. During his junior year, Herd scored 27 goals in 21 matches, which earned him Commonwealth Journal's All-County Player of the Year. Despite being riddled by injuries during his senior campaign, Herd still scored nine goals, had five assists, and was named to both All-District and All-Tournament Teams throughout his career.
And while Herd’s injuries were serious enough to end his future as a soccer player at the next level, the talented Somerset High School senior set his mind on continuing to play and recently signed to play at the next level for Union College. -
Lady Warriors win 7th straight crown
Since joining the 48th District, the Southwestern Lady Warriors have owned their tournament. In the first six seasons, one with Coach Derrick Harris and five under Jim Woodall, Southwestern had been 12-0 with six straight 48th District crowns—and they outscored their opponents 106-5 in the process.
-
Somerset grabs district crown from Pulaski
Early in the 2012 high school baseball season, the Somerset Briar Jumpers were having their fair share of struggles at the plate.
However, Phil Grundy’s club appears to be hitting its stride at the perfect time of the year. -
Lady Jumpers win back-to-back district titles
In 2011, the Somerset Lady Jumper softball team — who had won its first regional crown the year before in 2010 — brought home its first ever district title with a win in the finals over Pulaski County.
-
Warriors squeak out 5-4 win over McCreary
Heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, visiting McCreary Central had a slight edge over Southwestern, as they held a 4-3 lead over the homestanding Warriors.
But Alex Eaton’s Warriors would not let that slight edge affect them, as they plated a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame to grab a 5-4 victory in the opening round of the 48th District Baseball Tournament last night at Warrior Stadium. -
Impact of a state track meet
For most high school track athletes, the state championship is the grand finale to a to grueling high school track season or the cultivation of a long prep career filled with sweat, pain, nagging injuries and constant sore muscles.
-
An old friend and a new face
On Wednesday afternoon, Somerset High School announced their new basketball head coaches for the upcoming season.
-
A ‘Storm’ is heading to UK
Somerset High School’s WB Jones Auditorium was packed with ‘purple and gold’ clad students on Tuesday afternoon during their annual year-end award cermony.
-
Warriors top Pulaski in Scott McAninch Memorial
Over the past three weeks, not a single baseball team inside the 12th Region had been any hotter than the Southwestern Warriors or the Pulaski County Maroons.
-
Somerset track teams win Region, again
Both the Somerset High School boys and girls track teams claimed regional team titles late Saturday night in the Class A Region 6 Track and Field Championships at Somerset’s Joan Spurlock Track Complex.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
