NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Seven individuals reached the end zone, 11 members of the defense were credited with at least three stops and specials teams units blocked three kicks on Saturday, a balanced effort that led to No. 20/23 Vanderbilt football defeating Georgia State, 70-21, Saturday at FirstBank Stadium.
The Commodores scored touchdowns on all six first-half possessions, with Diego Pavia accounting for over 300 yards of total offense and a pair of scores in building a 42-9 advantage at the break. Sedrick Alexander had rushing and receiving touchdowns in the opening two quarters, with Pavia and Junior Sherrill adding scoring runs from 16 and 8 yards out, respectively, before AJ Newberry reached the end zone twice in a two-and-a-half minute stretch as Vandy outgained the Panthers by over 200 yards in the first half.
Makhilyn Young and quarterbacks Blaze Berlowitz and Drew Dickey added rushing touchdowns after the break while Jamison Curtis blocked a punt and returned it seven yards for a score as Vandy (4-0) reached the 70-point plateau for the first time since the 1918.
Jordan Matthews was one of six individuals with four stops for the Dores’ defense, including a forced fumble that led to Vandy’s third score late in the opening quarter. Bryan Longwell and Khordae Sydnor each were credited with one tackle for loss—the latter also broke up a pass and blocked an extra-point attempt—and Miles Capers matched a career high with 2½ stops behind the line. The Commodores recorded eight tackles for loss in all, with three sacks to go along with nine additional quarterback hurries.
Vandy quarterbacks found 14 different targets while combining to throw for 349 yards, with Pavia completing 18-of-24 attempts for 245 yards and a score. Eli Stowers led all players with 73 yards on a team-best five receptions, and Tristen Brown equaled a career high with three catches for 71 yards.
Pavia also paced the Commodores on the ground with 86 yards on nine carries, with Young and Berlowitz contributing touchdown runs of 40-plus yards to help Vanderbilt finished with 286 yards rushing and 635 in all.
TJ Finley finished 22-of-35 passing for 176 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers (1-3), as Ted Hurst caught seven balls for 71 yards and DJ Riles added five receptions for 57 yards and a score. But the Vandy defense limited Georgia State to just 32 rushing yards and an average of 1.6 yards per carry.
The Panthers’ Josiah Robinson made nine tackles, with one 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage, to lead all players in the contest.
Vanderbilt concludes nonconference play next Saturday against Utah State, with kickoff at FirstBank Stadium scheduled for 11:45 a.m.
