AUBURN, Ala. – Vanderbilt’s football team, which is receiving votes in both rankings, became bowl eligible for the first time since 2018 Saturday afternoon as it defeated Auburn 17-7 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. It was the Dores’ first-ever win on The Plains.
The Commodores (6-3, 3-2 SEC) picked up their third conference win of the season, their most SEC wins since recording three in 2018. The Tigers are now 3-6 this season and 1-5 in conference play.
Quarterback Diego Pavia threw for 143 yards and two scores Saturday, his seventh game this season with multiple passing touchdowns. Sedrick Alexander recorded a team-high 49 all-purpose yards to aid Vandy’s offensive efforts.
The Commodore offensive line did not allow a sack by the Tigers’ defense. It is the second game this season in which Vanderbilt did not allow a sack, the first coming in the Commodores’ win over Alabama.
CJ Taylor and Langston Patterson contributed seven tackles each to lead the Dores’ defense. For the second consecutive game, Randon Fontenette finished with a career-high-tying 2.5 tackles for loss. Aeneas DiCiosmo, Miles Capers and Kordae Sydnor each recorded a sack in the win.
Vanderbilt got on the board first when Pavia found AJ Newberry for a 28-yard passing touchdown, Newberry’s second receiving touchdown of the season.
Auburn evened the score in the second quarter on a 30-yard touchdown catch by tight end Rivaldo Fairweather from quarterback Payton Thorne.
Kicker Brock Taylor nailed a 31-yard field goal to give the Commodores the lead with 1:05 left in the third quarter. With 16 this season, Taylor is tied for second on the Dores’ all-time list for field goals made.
The Tigers had forced the Commodores to a field goal attempt at their own eight-yard line but committed a personal foul, giving Vandy the automatic first down. The Dores capitalized on the penalty and extended their lead to 10 points. Tight end Eli Stowers caught Pavia’s four-yard pass to score and close out a drive that lasted 14 plays, 78 yards and 8:53. It is Vanderbilt’s second-longest (TOP) scoring drive this season.
With less than two minutes to play, Thorne found Fairweather on a 16-yard pass for what would have been an Auburn first down were it not for CJ Taylor forcing his first fumble of the season, which was recovered by De’Rickey Wright to give the Dores back the ball.
Vanderbilt was able to run out the clock on the Tigers and earn its third SEC win this season and first chance for postseason play in six seasons.
The Commodores return home Saturday to host South Carolina at FirstBank Stadium for Homecoming. Kickoff is slated for 3:15 p.m.
