TAMPA, Fla. — Vanderbilt football’s Diego Pavia finished with 300-plus yards of total offense for the fifth straight game, accounting for 383 total yards and three scores, to lead the Commodores’ second-half comeback attempt at the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.
Despite outscoring Iowa (9-4) in the second half, Vanderbilt (10-3) fell to the Hawkeyes, 34-27.
Brock Taylor broke two program records. This season, Taylor made 13 of 14 field goal attempts for a .928 field goal percentage, which is a school record. He also equaled the program standard for points in a season with 99.
Pavia set the school record for career bowl game passing yards with 507 and tied the school record with 38 career completions in a bowl game.
Junior Sherrill led Vanderbilt receivers with eight catches for 123 yards. Tre Richardson was the Commodores’ second 100-plus yard receiver, accounting for six catches and 127 yards.
The Vanderbilt defense finished with two sacks, the 11th time this season with multiple sacks. Langston Patterson led the Dores’ defensive efforts, recording eight tackles including one for loss.
DJ Vonnahme led Hawkeye receivers with 146 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Mark Gronowski finished with 266 yards of total offense and accounted for three touchdowns.
Iowa jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, as Kamari Moulton scored on a four-yard rush on the opening drive.
The Hawkeyes reached Vanderbilt’s 4-yard line on their ensuing possession, however Martel Hight picked off Gronowski’s pass for his third interception in the past three games.
Taylor opened Vanderbilt scoring in the second quarter with a 41-yard field goal.
Trailing 21-3 early in the third quarter, Pavia found Richardson for a 75-yard touchdown pass. It’s the longest bowl game reception in Vanderbilt history, as well as the longest completion of the season for Pavia and Richardson’s longest reception as a Commodore. The Vanderbilt defense held Iowa to a field goal late in the third quarter. On the following possession, Pavia found Joseph McVay from 16 yards out to make it a one-score game.
The two squads’ quarterbacks traded rushing touchdowns in the final quarter, followed by a field goal by each team as the Hawkeyes maintained their seven-point advantage. Pavia’s 11-yard rushing touchdown was his 10th rushing score this season. It’s the eighth game this season and fifth consecutive contest where Pavia has recorded a passing and rushing touchdown. Taylor drilled a 37-yard field goal for his 13th make this season.
Despite Vanderbilt’s second-half comeback attempt, Iowa was able to run out the clock over the final two minutes and 57 seconds to clinch the win.
