By: Drew Mullvain
Photos: Wesley Webb
The Georgia Bulldogs beat the Vanderbilt Commodores 38-14 on Saturday’s homecoming game at Sanford Stadium, led by a high-profile passing attack. Georgia extended its seven-game win streak against Vanderbilt, with its last loss coming in 2016.
The Dawgs lead the Vanderbilt series 61-20-2, including winning the past six meetings.
View: Best Photos in Georgia’s victory over Vanderbilt (Photos/Wesley Webb)
Former 5-star quarterback and #1 quarterback in the recruiting class, Jared Curtis, flipped from Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC) to Vanderbilt (3-2, 0-2 SEC). But today, Jared Curtis did not play due to an injury. Senior Blaze Berlowitz takes over the reins at quarterback for the Commodores. Even though Nate Frazier and Isiah Canion were both listed as starters before the game started, neither of them appeared in the first half.
The Vanderbilt Commodores came into this game 3-1 and 0-1 in SEC play. Vanderbilt lost to Auburn last week, 21-15. The Dawgs have a perfect record, 4-0 and 2-0 in the SEC. The Dawgs are coming off a dominant win over Oklahoma last week.
Vanderbilt offense got the ball first, and they got past midfield but stalled out at Georgia’s 45-yard line. Georgia got the ball and drove 80 yards down the field in 5 minutes and 30 seconds for a touchdown reception by Landon Roldan (his first reception touchdown). Gunner Stockton was perfect on the opening drive; he went 8-for-8 for 61 yards.
The Georgia defense stood tall, forcing a quick three-and-out. Vanderbilt’s punter, Tyler Ebel, started off the game with two shanks. Vanderbilt seemed to be struggling on all sides of the ball to start the game. The Dawgs couldn’t answer the amazing field position, going three-and-out. Blaze Berlowitz completes his first pass of the game in the third possession. Vanderbilt silenced the crowd by completing a 60-yard touchdown pass to Junior Sherrill. A 95-yard touchdown drive. This was the first touchdown given up in the first quarter by Georgia’s defense.
Gunner started the second quarter in a big way by connecting with Landon Roldan on a 55-yard reception. Chauncey Bowens carried it in for a 1-yard touchdown run. This time it only took the Dawgs three plays and 43 seconds to get into the end zone. The Commodores offense seems to be able to drive on this Georgia defense, but stalls out when they get near midfield.
Dawgs got the ball back on their own 5 and avoided a safety as the Commodores sacked Stockton just in front of the goal line, and the Dawgs had to punt on their own 2-yard line. The Commodores started their next drive on Georgia’s 42-yard line. But the Commodores committed a blindside block and backed them up to 2&28, and they wouldn’t be able to get the first down. The Commodores tried to kick a 58-yard field goal, but it was blocked by Elijah Griffin.
In the first half, it seemed like the Commodores blitzed on every play. Gunner Stockton seemed to be in prime form, as he threaded the needle to Thomas Blackshear on a crucial third down. Thomas Blackshear was ushered to the locker room with 4 and a half minutes left in the half. Stockton connected with Dwight Phillips Jr. on a swing pass for a 30-yard gain. Phillips seemed to have scored, but his foot touched the pylon, and the ball wasn’t over the line. The Dawgs lined up on the half-yard line and handed the ball off to Jaden Reddell for an end-around touchdown.
Vanderbilt went on an impressive drive, and ended it by running it into the end zone with Sedrick Alexander. The drive was 10 plays, 75 yards, 3 minutes, and 27 seconds. They left Georgia with 31 seconds left in the half, and the Dawgs decided to go to the locker room.
Nate Frazier started at running back to start the second half. Thomas Blackshear was announced as not returning to the game, and he was standing on the sidelines with a sling. Gunner attempted to connect with Craig Dandridge Jr., but it was tipped and then caught by Lawson Luckie, who ran it for 43 yards. The Dawgs capped off the opening drive of the second half with Gunner Stockton connecting with Elyiss Williams for a 1-yard touchdown pass. That is Gunner’s 12th passing touchdown of the year.
The big question was, would Vanderbilt’s offense be able to continue to play how they did in the first half? Here’s how their opening drive of the second half went.
After a first-down run, Gabe Harris sacked Blaze for a five-yard loss. Resulted in a 3rd & 14, which they got 13 yards on third down. On 4th & 1, the Commodores decided to go for it and just made it past the line of gain, for a first down. Another third-and-long occurred, and the Commodores could not convert, but they gained four yards. They decided to go for it again on fourth down, and they could not convert after it was called a catch, but replay ruled it the other way. The Commodores’ drive lasted longer than six minutes, and the Dawgs got the ball back with 1 minute and 15 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Dawgs started the fourth quarter on Vanderbilt’s 37-yard line. The Dawgs’ drive stalled on Vanderbilt’s 21-yard line, and the field goal unit came onto the field. Peyton Woodring knocked the 39-yard field goal in, and the score became 31-14 with 12 and a half left in the fourth quarter.
Georgia corner Ellis Robinson IV makes an All-American play by intercepting Blaze’s deep pass. Robinson IV was beat early, but he covered ground, turned at the right moment, and caused the first interception of the day. Dawgs get the ball back on their own 30-yard line. The Dawgs go on a “Kirby Death March,” and they capped it off by throwing a swing pass touchdown to Dwight Phillips Jr which extended the lead to 38-14. The touchdown drive included 12 plays, 70 yards, and 6 minutes, 14 seconds.
Vanderbilt got the ball back with five minutes left in the game, but they couldn’t score and had to punt. Ryan Puglisi took over the quarterback position with 3 minutes left in the game. The Dawgs were able to run out the clock. The line for this game was Georgia 24.5; the Dawgs won by 24 points. The Dawgs had an opportunity to score, but took a knee on Vanderbilt’s 10-yard line.
The Dawgs will travel to Tuscaloosa next week to face Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m.
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