NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt capped a season like nothing it has seen in nearly a century Monday - and Coach James Franklin says everyone better get used to it.

Jordan Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Commodores capped their best season since 1915 by defeating North Carolina State 38-24 in the Music City Bowl on Monday.

“We’re not going anywhere,” a smiling and teary Franklin said.

The Commodores finished 9-4 for their best record since going 9-1 in 1915, and it’s only the third time the smallest and only private university in the SEC has won as many as nine games in a season.

Vandy closed the season with seven consecutive victories for its longest streak since an eight-game run in 1948, and its 15 victories over the past two seasons is the program’s best total since 1926 and 1927.

“When you’re throwing out dates like 1915, you know that’s a very, very, very long time,” Franklin said. “Talk about these guys great-great grandparents. Seven-game win streak is the team’s longest win streak since 1948, and we also currently have the longest win streak in the SEC, which we’re very, very proud of.”

Vanderbilt forced a season high five turnovers, including four in the first half, and turned those into 17 points.

Interim coach Dana Bible ran N.C. State (7-6) after Tom O’Brien was fired at the end of the regular season. It was the Wolfpack’s fifth game of the season with at least four turnovers, and it helped wipe out a 424-225 advantage in total offense.

Vandy wound up running for 117 yards, with Zac Stacy getting 107 on 25 carries, mostly in the wildcat.

The Commodores took control from the opening drive, moving 65 yards for a touchdown that put them ahead to stay. Officials initially called Chris Boyd out of bounds, but the video review showed the sophomore got the toes of his right foot down for a 5-yard TD pass from Rodgers.

Commodores safety Kenny Ladler picked off a Glennon pass at the North Carolina State 45 for Vanderbilt’s fifth interception in three games.

It was just a sign of what was to come in the first half. Johnell Thomas stripped Wolfpack freshman Shadrach Thornton late in the first quarter, and Derreon Herring stripped N.C. State tight end Asa Watson of the ball after a nice catch. Ladler recovered that ball.

And safety Eric Samuels intercepted Glennon with 54 seconds left in the first half.

Vanderbilt turned the third turnover into a touchdown, making it 14-0 in the second quarter. Stacy, the school’s all time leading rusher, scored on a 6-yard run with 10:08 left.

Tony Creecy responded with a 1-yard TD run for the Wolfpack. But Vanderbilt stuck with the wildcat, and Wesley Tate scored on a 7-yard TD run for a 21-7 lead with 3:47 left in the second.

Tobias Palmer, who struggled catching the ball on his first two kickoff returns, caught the next cleanly and ran untouched 94 yards for a TD that made it 21-14.

Rodgers tossed his second touchdown pass, a screen that Matthews took 18 yards to the end zone, to restore the 14-point lead and make it 28-14 at the break. That matched the most points the Commodores had scored in any of their five previous bowl games. Rodgers ran for a 15-yard TD with 5:11 left that sealed the victory.

Sports, Pages 16 on 01/01/2013