Vandy linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer said a handful of errors cost the Commodores a chance at pulling off an upset.

''This game should have been a blowout,'' said Hillenmeyer, who recorded nine tackles and deflected a pass. ''We played them off the field. We turned the ball over three times and gave a few big plays on defense, or that score is 50-20. That's the most frustrating part. We knew what they were doing on defense and had them figured out, and we were in position to make the plays. We just didn't do it.''

Booker starts

Freshman Chris Booker got his first start, replacing Jovan Haye at right defensive end. Booker batted down an Eli Manning pass in the fourth quarter on third down, forcing the Rebels to punt and setting up Vandy's drive that tied the score 38-38. He finished with just one assisted tackle.

Also, Moses Osemwegie was unable to start for the second consecutive game because of a sprained knee. He was replaced by Brandon Walthour. Osemwegie was able to come in on the game's first series and played at spots throughout the game. Walthour left the game in the third quarter with a concussion.

Dinwiddie reinjured

Vandy defensive end Robert Dinwiddie left the game with an injured left knee in the first quarter and taken for X-rays. The sophomore from Hendersonville tore the ACL in his left knee at the end of spring practice.

Kovolisky sidelined

Starting offensive tackle Brian Kovolisky was unable to play because of sprained left knee. He was replaced by freshman Mac Pyle, who got his first start. Kovolisky was able to play in the second half.

Spreading the wealth

Manning completed passes to 10 different receivers, while Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler only had three receivers who had catches.

First points

Ole Miss failed to score in the first quarter of its first three games. Yesterday, however, the Rebels scored 10 points in the opening quarter.

Vanderbilt, meanwhile, scored its first TD this season against a Division I-A opponent when Kwane Doster ran 24 yards in the second quarter. It was Doster's first career TD.

The last I-A opponent Vandy scored on was Ole Miss on Dec. 1 last year.

Doster explodes

Doster's 95-yard kickoff return late in the third quarter tied for fifth longest in Vanderbilt history. His 223 total yards on kickoff returns is a school record for a single game. He also rushed for a career-high 101 yards on 15 carries.

Mullins remembered

Ole Miss senior linebacker Lanier Goethie from Baxley, Ga., is the 13th recipient of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award and is wearing the late Mullins' No. 38. Goethie left yesterday's game with a broken toe in the second quarter.

Mullins was paralyzed after hitting Vanderbilt running back Brad Gaines during a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 1989.

Upright upsetting

Both of Greg Johnson's missed field goals this season hit the right upright. After connecting on his previous three tries Johnson nailed the top of the upright in the first quarter yesterday. The freshman's first attempt in the opener at Georgia Tech also hit the right upright.

Field goals galore

Ole Miss' Jonathan Nichols had a total of just three field goals all of last season. The sophomore kicked three in the first half yesterday.