NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt football team dropped a rainy matchup to South Carolina on Saturday, falling 28-7 at FirstBank Stadium.
Neither team generated momentum early as Vanderbilt’s opening drive lasted just five plays, resulting in a punt. South Carolina steadily marched down the field on the ensuing drive, however, Gamecock kicker Alex Herrera could not convert a 42-yard field goal attempt through the steady drizzle. The miss was his first since Oct. 12 against Alabama.
Weather continued to have a factor on the game throughout the quarter. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers fumbled deep in Gamecock territory, stripped by Miles Capers on a scramble and recovered by Langston Patterson. The fumble recovery was Patterson’s first of the season, and the eighth game this season Vanderbilt has forced a turnover. Seconds later, the Dores fell victim to a turnover of their own as quarterback Diego Pavia was hit from behind, fumbling the ball at the 19-yard line. The quarter went on to end 0-0, marking the first time all season Vanderbilt has been held scoreless and the fourth time the Commodores have shut out their opponents in the opening period.
South Carolina took advantage of the fumble soon after, breaking the stalemate with 13:11 left in the second quarter as Sellers found tight end Joshua Simon down the middle for a 17-yard touchdown. The score marked just the third time all season Vanderbilt’s opponent scored first. Defense continued to influence the first half as the Gamecocks carried the 7-0 lead into halftime.
South Carolina opened the third quarter with a chunk play, as Sellers found receiver Jared Brown downfield for a 51-yard completion. Running back Raheim Sanders capped off the drive two plays later with a 33-yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 14-0. With the momentum shifting, Pavia responded to lead Vanderbilt down the field with its longest possession of the game, a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Facing a 3rd-and-8 in the redzone, Pavia got the Dores on the board with a 17-yard touchdown scramble. The score was Pavia’s fifth rushing touchdown this season.
South Carolina seized control on the strength of its running game, rushing for 98 yards in the third quarter alone. Sanders added his second rushing touchdown on a 1-yard carry with 4:07 to play in the third, pushing the lead to 21-7. The next two Commodore drives went well into Gamecock territory, but ended in empty fourth down conversions. South Carolina iced the game on a 43-yard screen pass from Sellers to Sanders with 7:55 left, producing the final score of 28-7.
The Gamecocks garnered 214 yards on 43 total carries. South Carolina’s rushing performance was its second consecutive game with 200 yards or more on the ground.
No. 24/25 Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3 SEC) looks to get back in the win column on the road against No. 14/13 LSU on Nov. 23. The contest is set for an evening kickoff between 5 and 7 p.m. CT from Death Valley.
