Georgia Edges Vanderbilt 20-17

Oct. 13, 2007

Audio: Johnson’s Press Conference

Audio: 104.5 Play of Game – Walker TD

Paul J. Levy’s Photos | AP Photos

Box Score | Season Stats | Quotes | Notes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Georgia and Vanderbilt are making a habit of spoiling each others’ homecoming.

Brandon Coutu kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired to help No. 24 Georgia overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and beat Vanderbilt 20-17 on Saturday night, avenging last season’s loss in Athens, Ga.

“Everybody is real mad,” Vanderbilt cornerback D.J. Moore said. “We really could have won this game.”

Knowshon Moreno rushed for a career-high 157 yards in his first start for Georgia (5-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference), 123 of it coming in the second half.

COMMODORE POST-GAME COVERAGE

WalkerGAME BALL Wide receiver Sean Walker accounted for both of Vanderbilt’s touchdowns with two 15-yard scores. His first touchdown came on a reverse, while his second came on a circus catch. Walker’s touchdown run was the second of his career and gave VU its first lead of the game with 9:09 to play in the second quarter. A native of Wrens, Ga., Walker was initially ruled out of bounds on his touchdown catch before the call was overturned and ruled a touchdown. “I knew I was in,” Walker said of his catch. “I was just hoping the officials would replay it.” Walker also had a receiving touchdown at Georgia last season. He finished with two catches for 23 yards and one carry for 15 yards. BENNETT WATCH After setting the school record for career receptions last week against Auburn, junior wide receiver Earl Bennett hauled in three catches for 31 yards against Georgia to move within four catches of becoming the SEC’s all-time leader in that category. He is also just 541 yards from becoming the league’s all-time leader in receiving yardage. His three receptions moved him past former Georgia wideout Terrence Edwards (204 receptions) and into second place in league history with 205 catches. MOORE PLAYS TWO WAYS Sophomore D.J. Moore saw action on both offense and defense for the Commodores, becoming Vanderbilt’s first two-way player since Lorenzo Parker played tailback and cornerback against Tennessee on Nov. 23, 2002. On the night, Moore had two carries for 48 yards on offense, eight tackles and one pass breakup on defense and he averaged 21.3 yards on four kickoff returns. CUTLER, SNEDEKER RECOGNIZED Recognized on the field during the game were Brandt Snedeker and Jay Cutler. Snedeker served as an honorary captain before the game, while Cutler was recognized in the south endzone during the first quarter. GOFF TALLIES 14 TACKLES Senior linebacker Jonathan Goff matched a career high with 14 combined tackles and 12 solo stops. He previously posted the same numbers in the 2006 season opener at Michigan (Sept. 2, 2006).

Moreno, a redshirt freshman, had a 32-yard run to set up a Georgia touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, narrowing Vanderbilt’s lead to 17-14.

Georgia tailback Kregg Lumpkin left the game in the third quarter with an ankle and knee injury, putting even more burden on Moreno — who was already replacing injured starter Thomas Brown.

Richt said he is not sure what his running back rotation will be when all three are active.

“He’s an amazing player,” Richt said. “I probably should have played him last year, looking at him now.”

Vanderbilt’s Cassen Jackson-Garrison fumbled 7 yards short of the goal line, setting up the Bulldogs’ winning drive.

Matthew Stafford had 201 yards passing for Georgia, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Sean Bailey, and an 11-yard completion to Tripp Chander that shortened Coutu’s attempt.

“We never wavered,” Stafford said. “We never gave up. We came out pumped up and ready in the second half.”

Sean Walker caught a touchdown pass and ran for another for Vanderbilt (3-3, 1-3), which didn’t score a point in the second half. His 16-yard touchdown pass, originally ruled incomplete, gave the Commodores a 17-7 lead in the second quarter. Walker bobbled the ball twice, but appeared to control it before falling out-of-bounds in the back of the end zone.

The ending, though, left a different feeling for Vanderbilt.

The Commodores pulled off a 24-22 upset against Georgia last season in Athens.

“It’s still a loss,” Moore said. “Stuff happens. Good stuff and bad stuff. Last year, we made a field goal to beat them. So stuff happens both ways.”

Stafford led the Bulldogs on a 10-play, 73-yard drive to set up the field goal by Coutu, his second of the game. Coutu also kicked a 31-yard field goal earlier in the fourth quarter, and missed off the left crossbar from 49 yards in the first quarter.

Vanderbilt had two time outs but chose not to use either on the final kick.

“I was trying to find Coutu before the final play,” Richt said. “I was just trying to find him on the sideline. I was just going to say, ‘Son, you might have to kick it three times. So just get it in your head.”

Vanderbilt swapped quarterbacks early before sticking with backup Mackenzi Adams.

Adams had 125 yards passing and a touchdown, and he also ran for 76 yards on several option plays. Chris Nickson made his 18th consecutive start for Vanderbilt, but saw limited action after the first quarter. Nickson went just 2-for-5 for six yards.

The Commodores tricked the Bulldogs most of the night, pulling several reverses and deceiving plays. The quarterback changes kept the Bulldogs off guessing.

“We had a package that would suit Chris Nickson well and a package that would suit Mackenzi Adams well,” Johnson said of his quarterback rotation. “I just want to win, that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Moore had 123 all-purpose yards, and his 39-yard rush in the second quarter led to a Commodores touchdown that put them ahead 10-7.

“We settled in and tried to run the ball more in the second half,” Richt said. “Of course, Knowshon gave us a lot of reasons to do that.”