NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Vanderbilt started a new quarterback, but the Commodores won the old way by handing the ball to Zac Stacy.
Stacy rushed for 174 yards and a touchdown on eight carries as Vanderbilt earned its first win of the season in a 58-0 victory over Presbyterian on Saturday. In a decision announced shortly before kickoff, Vanderbilt started junior Austyn Carta-Samuels at quarterback in place of senior Jordan Rodgers.
Vanderbilt (1-2, 0-1 SEC) also earned its first shutout since defeating The Citadel 58-0 on Oct. 9, 1999.
Carta-Samuels' first snap of the season for Vanderbilt was a handoff to Stacy, who broke a tackle at his feet to run for an 86-yard touchdown, the longest rush in Vanderbilt history. A preseason second-team All-SEC running back, Stacy had rushed for 84 yards in the Commodores' first two games.
The meeting with Presbyterian (1-2) gave Vanderbilt an opportunity to notch its first win of the season after losing fourth-quarter leads against South Carolina and Northwestern to start the season. Vanderbilt will face No. 7 Georgia on the road next week.
The lopsided score also allowed Vanderbilt to go to its bench early, with four running backs accounting for at least one touchdown and two backs topping 100 yards.
Freshman Brian Kimbrow rushed for 137 yards on 14 carries, including a 49-yard score. Wesley Tate added 24 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.
With his first touches on offense since a season-ending injury on Oct. 30, 2010, Vanderbilt running back Warren Norman received a spirited ovation when he entered the game in the second quarter. Norman rushed for 26 yards and a touchdown.
Carta-Samuels was the most notable player to receive his first extended playing time for the Commodores this season. The former starting quarterback at Wyoming sat out for Vanderbilt last season per NCAA transfer rules. Carta-Samuels completed 13 of 20 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown before he was relieved by John Townsley in the fourth quarter.
The change at quarterback ended a streak of nine consecutive starts for Jordan Rodgers, who had passed for 431 yards this season but turned the ball over once in each game this season.
Presbyterian's best chance to score came in the second quarter when a Vanderbilt holding penalty erased a blocked punt. The Blue Hose converted the ensuing fourth-and-2 and drove to the Vanderbilt 5.
The scoring bid ended when Vanderbilt cornerback Trey Wilson intercepted quarterback Tamyn Garrick in the end zone, returning the pick 100 yards for a touchdown.