Vanderbilt's Sarah Fuller, right, kicks off as Ryan McCord (27) holds to start the second half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. With the kick, Fuller became the first female to play in a Southeastern Conference football game. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Sarah Fuller made history, but her barrier-breaking kickoff was the only highlight for Vanderbilt as Missouri dominated the Commodores 41-0 on Saturday.
Fuller became the first woman to participate in a Power 5 conference football game when she kicked off to start the second half. Fuller delivered a low kick that bounced to the 35-yard line, where Missouri pounced on it. She never got the chance to attempt a PAT or field goal, as the Tigers (4-3) rarely allowed the Commodores (0-8) to cross midfield in the Southeastern Conference game.
Larry Rountree rushed 21 times for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Connor Bazelak completed 30 of 37 passes for 318 yards. Running back Tyler Badie had seven catches for 102 yards and scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter. True freshman quarterback Brady Cook got his first snaps of the year in mop-up time and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Damon Hazelton.
Vanderbilt gained just 196 total yards against a stingy Missouri defense that has held three of its last four opponents to 10 points or less. Ken Seals completed 11 of 19 passes for 79 yards. Keyon Henry-Brooks rushed 15 times for 64 yards but lost a fumble in Missouri territory to end a rare promising drive for the Commodores to open the third quarter.
Fuller, a senior goalkeeper on the Vanderbilt soccer team, joined the football team this week after helping the Commodores win the Southeastern Conference Tournament last weekend. COVID-19 protocols and restrictions left Vandy football coach Derek Mason with a limited number of specialists available against Missouri. Mason reached out to soccer coach Darren Ambrose for some help, and Fuller agreed to give the sport a try.
THE TAKEAWAY
Missouri: Senior linebacker Nick Bolton is making a bid for All-SEC and All-American honors. Bolton finished with nine tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and a pass breakup against Vanderbilt. He has 76 tackles on the season.
Vanderbilt: An otherwise forgettable game will be remembered for Fuller's participation. No woman had appeared in an SEC football game or for any Power 5 team. Women have played college football at other levels. Liz Heaston became the first woman to score with two extra points for Willamette in NAIA on Oct. 18, 1997. Katie Hnida was the first woman to score at the Football Bowl Subdivision level with two extra points for New Mexico on Aug. 30, 2003. April Goss was the second with an extra point for Kent State in 2015. Tonya Butler was the first woman to kick a field goal in an NCAA game for Division II West Alabama on Sept. 13, 2003.
UP NEXT
Missouri: The Tigers are scheduled to play Arkansas at home on Saturday.
Vanderbilt: The Commodores visit Georgia on Saturday.
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Missouri defensive back Jarvis Ware (8) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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CORRECTS TO UPON REVIEW HE DID NOT SCORE-Missouri running back Tyler Badie, left, runs past Vanderbilt linebacker Michael Owusu (88) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals, right, is pulled down by Missouri linebacker Tre Williams (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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CORRECTS TO UPON REVIEW HE DID NOT SCORE-Missouri running back Tyler Badie (1) runs past Vanderbilt safety Dashaun Jerkins (33) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Missouri wide receiver Keke Chism (6) catches a pass as Vanderbilt cornerback Allan George (28) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Missouri wide receiver Keke Chism (6) catches a pass as Vanderbilt cornerback Allan George (28) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals (8) throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Vanderbilt wide receiver Cam Johnson (7) is pulled down by Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Missouri running back Larry Rountree III (34) runs for a touchdown past Vanderbilt linebacker Anfernee Orji during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Missouri running back Larry Rountree III (34) runs for a touchdown past Vanderbilt linebacker Anfernee Orji during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Missouri running back Larry Rountree III (34) runs with the ball as Vanderbilt defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo (10) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Missouri running back Larry Rountree III (34) runs past Vanderbilt linebacker Anfernee Orji (26) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Missouri running back Tyler Badie (1) runs with the ball as Vanderbilt safety Brendon Harris (13) and cornerback Elijah Hamilton defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Missouri wide receiver Tauskie Dove (86) catches a pass as Vanderbilt cornerback Elijah Hamilton (15) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Missouri quarterback Connor Bazelak throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals scrambles as Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton (32) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Vanderbilt place kicker Sarah Fuller warms up before the start of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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Vanderbilt place kicker Sarah Fuller (32) gets a fist bump from Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz after warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
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