Vanderbilt falls to Georgia as Blaze Berlowitz gets start after Jared Curtis injury
· Yahoo Sports
ATHENS, GA ― Despite a strong first half, Vanderbilt football fell to Georgia, 38-14, at Sanford Stadium on Oct. 3.
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Jared Curtis vs. Georgia was one of the most anticipated matchups of the weekend given that Curtis had been committed to the Bulldogs prior to flipping to Vanderbilt. But Curtis didn't play due to an undisclosed injury, leading to Blaze Berlowitz getting his third start of the season.
The Commodores (3-2, 0-2 SEC) played well for most of the game, trailing by just seven at halftime and even outgaining Georgia (5-0, 3-0) in the first half. But in the second half, Georgia took over and held Vanderbilt scoreless after the break.
Blaze Berlowitz gets the start for Vanderbilt
Berlowitz started the first two games of the season, but Curtis took over afterward, a switch that even led Berlowitz to take snaps at wide receiver in a loss to Auburn.
Berlowitz was largely effective. He excelled at evading pressure, only getting sacked one time, and frequently found open receivers when plays broke down. Berlowitz also completed a 60-yard pass, which was Vanderbilt's longest play of the season.
Berlowitz went 12-for-23 passing for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He ran eight times for 37 yards.
Un-Luckie plays
During one play in the third quarter, Vanderbilt nearly got a third-down stop by tipping a pass, but that pass landed right into the hands of receiver Lawson Luckie, who turned it into a 43-yard gain. Georgia ultimately scored a touchdown on that drive.
On the ensuing drive for the Commodores, Junior Sherrill was originally ruled to have caught a fourth-down pass, but after review, the play was overturned into a turnover on downs.
After Georgia kicked a field goal on its ensuing drive, Berlowitz threw a decent pass attempt, but defensive back Ellis Robinson made an excellent play on it to get the interception.
Vanderbilt's run defense strong
Vanderbilt's run defense performed well, rendering the Bulldogs ineffective rushing. At the same time, quarterback Gunner Stockton was extremely efficient, able to make both explosive plays and quick checkdowns.
No Georgia player had over 31 rush yards, and the Bulldogs averaged under four yards per carry. But Stockton finished 25-for-32 for 295 yards and three touchdowns.
On the Commodores' next drive, what was originally Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt falls to Georgia as Blaze Berlowitz gets start after Jared Curtis injury