Vanderbilt went into Sanford Stadium and showed during the first half that it wasn’t intimidated by second-ranked Georgia.
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Unfortunately for the Commodores, staying with the Bulldogs for two quarters and beating them for four quarters proved to be two very different challenges.
Georgia pulled away in the second half for a 38-14 victory, improving to 5-0 while Vanderbilt dropped to 3-2.
The Bulldogs scored first, but Vanderbilt produced an immediate reminder that the Commodores possess legitimate big-play ability. Late in the first quarter, quarterback Blaze Berlowitz connected with Junior Sherrill for a 60-yard touchdown that tied the score at 7-7.
Georgia responded with two second-quarter touchdowns and appeared ready to take complete control. Vanderbilt answered again just before halftime. Sedrick Alexander scored on a two-yard run with 35 seconds remaining, sending the Commodores to the locker room trailing only 21-14.
At that point, Vanderbilt was very much in the football game.
Georgia’s depth and efficiency took over after halftime. The Bulldogs scored 17 unanswered points while shutting out Vanderbilt over the final two quarters.
Gunner Stockton was excellent for Georgia, completing 25 of 32 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Georgia accumulated 471 total yards and averaged 7.1 yards per play.
Berlowitz finished 12-of-23 for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Sherrill was Vanderbilt’s most productive offensive player, catching seven passes for 107 yards and the 60-yard touchdown.
Vanderbilt finished with 293 yards, including only 85 on the ground. The Commodores also hurt themselves with nine penalties for 60 yards, while Georgia was penalized only four times.
The Bulldogs did not commit a turnover. Vanderbilt had one.
The final 24-point margin makes the game appear more one-sided than it felt during the first half. Vanderbilt went into one of college football’s most difficult environments and traded punches with the nation’s No. 2 team for 30 minutes.
But Georgia demonstrated the difference between competing with an elite opponent and finishing one off. The Bulldogs controlled the second half, protected the football and gradually wore Vanderbilt down.
For the Commodores, the loss hurts, but the first half provided evidence that Vanderbilt has progressed enough to make even the SEC’s best teams work.
Final: Georgia 38, Vanderbilt 14
