Vanderbilt’s first victory over a ranked team since 2008 drove third-year coach James Franklin to tears in his press conference.
It might have come at a cost.
The Commodores delivered under difficult circumstances, rallying from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit without their starting quarterback to stun No. 16 Georgia 31-27 before a sellout crowd of 40,350 Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium.
Vanderbilt (4-3, 1-3 SEC) not only snapped its winless start to conference play, but also ended a 15-game slide against ranked teams and a six-game skid against the Bulldogs (4-3, 3-2).
Franklin did not address Austyn Carta-Samuels’ status after the game, but his comments made it sound as if the injury was serious. The senior left late in the second quarter when his left leg got twisted during a sack.
Redshirt freshman Patton Robinette connected on nine of 15 passes for 107 yards and ran for a touchdown in Carta-Samuels’ absence.
“They just determined that I wasn’t able to go today,” said Carta-Samuels, who left McGugin Center on crutches about an hour after the game ended. “Don’t know beyond that.”
“I feel for that kid,” Franklin said. “I feel for his family. But that’s why you’re at Vanderbilt, so when you do have an issue like this in terms of from a health perspective, that you’re going to have a chance to go on and do great things for the rest of your life. … Austyn’s going to go on and do great things.”
Vanderbilt outgained Georgia 337-221 and limited Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray to 114 passing yards, the third-lowest total of his career and his lowest mark this season.
The Commodores outscored Georgia 17-0 over the final 10:38. The Bulldogs, who were without starting tailback Todd Gurley (ankle) for a third consecutive game, totaled just 4 yards of offense on 12 plays in the fourth quarter while producing one first down.
“(Defensive coordinator Bob) Shoop came in at halftime and wanted to adjust on different plays and different reads,” Vanderbilt linebacker Darreon Herring said. “Our D-line was getting off the ball really good in this game. All the linebackers were stuffing the holes and playing great.”
Georgia freshman running back Brendan Douglas fumbled and Vanderbilt’s Andre Hal scooped it up with 1:59 remaining, which essentially sealed the outcome. That was the last in a string of Georgia miscues during its collapse.
“It’s definitely one that’s going to hit us deep,” Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins said. “We thought we had it won. We should have won. Some unfortunate things happened today.”
The Bulldogs led 27-14 when Vanderbilt caught a break. Damian Swann fumbled a fair catch on Colby Cooke’s punt with 19 seconds to play in the third quarter. Torren McGaster recovered, and Vanderbilt was in business.
Robinette cashed in the turnover on a 2-yard draw with 10:38 remaining in the game. Georgia’s Ramik Wilson kept the drive alive when he was flagged for a personal foul against receiver Jonathan Krause on a fourth-down incompletion.
Wilson was initially ejected for targeting. The ejection was reversed, but the penalty stood. A targeting call was upheld against Georgia defensive end Ray Drew early in the game that led to his ejection.
The Bulldogs led 27-24 with three minutes to play when Georgia punter Collin Barber fumbled a high snap. Vanderbilt took over at the Georgia 13, and one play later running back Jerron Seymour ran around the left side for the go-ahead touchdown.
A roller-coaster second quarter ended with Georgia leading 24-14.
Bulldogs cornerback Shaq Williams read a receiver screen pass and returned his interception 39 yards for a touchdown and a 17-14 lead. After the Bulldogs knocked Carta-Samuels (12-of-20 passing, 111 yards) out of the game, Murray capped the half on a 2-yard run on fourth-and-goal.
Spear surprised Georgia early in the second quarter when he lined up for a 20-yard field but instead took a handoff from holder Taylor Hudson and ran 3 yards for a touchdown to put Vanderbilt up 10-7.
“I think the fake field goal was an important play in the game,” Franklin said. “We’re at a point in our program that we’re building here where we have to take some calculated risks, some chances. We’ve been committed to doing that for three years.”
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