ATHENS, Ga. — Vanderbilt trailed No. 2 Georgia by a touchdown at halftime Saturday at Sanford Stadium before the Bulldogs scored 17 unanswered points to win 38-14.
The Commodores (3-2, 0-2 SEC) outgained the Bulldogs (5-0, 2-0 SEC) in the first half and controlled the time of possession before Georgia flipped the script in the second half, limiting Vandy to 59 total yards while holding the ball for more than 20 minutes.
Junior Sherrill went over 100 yards receiving for the fourth time in his career, tied for 10th-most in program history. Sherrill caught a season-high seven passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Blaze Berlowitz got the start under center and threw for 190 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, CJ Heard led the Dores with nine total tackles. Heard added a sack and a pass breakup. Bryan Longwell and Bryce Cowan finished with six tackles each.
After Georgia scored on their opening drive in the first quarter, Berlowitz pulled the Commodores even with a 60-yard touchdown pass to Sherrill. The longest play of the season for Vanderbilt moved Sherrill into the top 10 for career receiving yards and a tie for eighth on Vandy’s all-time receiving touchdowns list.
Sherrill owns the longest active reception streak in FBS with a catch in 42 consecutive games.
Georgia responded with a three-play scoring drive and then took a 21-7 lead with 3:58 remaining in the second quarter.
Berlowitz and the Commodores closed out the first half with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a Sedrick Alexander rushing touchdown from two yards out to pull within a touchdown heading into halftime.
Alexander has scored in all five games this season and now ranks second in program history with 25 career rushing touchdowns and is third in total touchdowns with 31.
Vanderbilt’s 14 first-half points were the most allowed by Georgia’s defense in the first two quarters all season. The Bulldogs had held opponents to just 12 first-half points combined in their first four games this fall. Berlowitz registered 162 yards through the air in the first two periods.
The Bulldogs extended their lead on the opening drive of the third quarter and controlled the ball for most of the second half. After Vanderbilt led time of possession going into the break, Georgia held the ball for 20:07 in the final two periods and outgained the Commodores 256-59.
The home team added a field goal and a touchdown in the fourth quarter to defeat the Commodores 38-14.
Vanderbilt returns home and will host No. 9/12 Ole Miss next Saturday at FirstBank Stadium.
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