Diego Pavia rushed for two touchdowns but Vanderbilt needed a fourth-quarter defensive stand. Here’s how the Commodores upset LSU
Pavia scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper in the first quarter, capping a 9-play, 57-yard drive that lasted more than five minutes. The touchdown run was set up by Pavia’s 20-yard scramble two plays earlier.
In the third quarter, Pavia broke free for a 21-yard touchdown run by moving away from defenders and heading down the left side of the field. The score gave Vanderbilt a 31-21 lead with 27 seconds left in the third quarter.
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Pavia could have scored a third goal but smartly got down in front of the goal line to end the game late in the fourth quarter. After LSU punted from its own zone with 3:24 left, running back Makhilyn Young broke up a 43-yard run on Vanderbilt’s first play, putting the Commodores in field goal range.
LSU’s controversial fourth down punt call backfires in the closing minutes
LSU went three-and-out in its own territory with 3:24 left, and coach Brian Kelly elected to punt on fourth-and-eight from the Tigers’ 22-yard line despite calling two timeouts and the impending two-minute warning.
The decision turned out to be costly. Young’s 43-yard run following the punt put Vanderbilt in position to run out the clock, leaving Pavia behind the goal line just before the two-minute warning as LSU called a timeout.
Sedrick Alexander’s goal-line goal increased the lead in the first half
Facing fourth-and-1 from the LSU 1-yard line late in the first half, Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea decided to go for it. Running back Sedrick Alexander dove for the touchdown, which was confirmed upon review, giving Vanderbilt a 14-10 lead. The Commodores were able to run more effectively from the back position on this drive, with Alexander gaining 12 yards on the first down of the drive.
Cole Spence’s touchdown performance extended Vanderbilt’s lead in the third quarter
The Commodores took advantage of the first possession of halftime, driving 75 yards in 10 plays and scoring on Diego Pavia’s pass to tight end Cole Spence. The touchdown drive was six minutes late and gave Vanderbilt a 24-13 lead with 9:03 left in the third quarter.
A throw to an open Spence for 21 yards brought Vanderbilt to the 4-yard line before the scoring play.
LSU’s offensive attack keeps Tigers within striking distance
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier scored on a 24-yard connection to tight end Trey’Dez Green that gave the Tigers a 10-7 lead in the second quarter. Nussmeier made a great throw to receiver Barion Brown on third-and-9 under pressure before the touchdown.
In the third quarter, receiver Zavion Thomas threw a Nussmeier pass home for a 62-yard touchdown. Thomas broke several tackles behind the first down marker before accelerating toward the end zone. The Tigers converted the two-point conversion to make it a one-point game.
LSU responded with another long drive but a false start at the 1-yard line pushed them back and they had to settle for a field goal. With a short shot from kicker Damian Ramos, Vanderbilt brought the score to 31-24 with 11:39 left in the fourth quarter.
LSU’s injury concerns and critical fourth down stop
LSU left tackle Tyree Adams was helped off the field by practice staff after he went down with a lower-body injury on the team’s second drive. First-team All-SEC player Whit Weeks was considered questionable for Saturday’s game due to a bone bruise in his ankle.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was sacked by LSU’s West Weeks on fourth down in the second quarter, giving LSU possession at the Vanderbilt 36-yard line. But LSU kicker Damian Ramos missed a 52-yard field goal attempt after the drive was stopped, allowing Vanderbilt to maintain a 14-10 lead before halftime.
Vanderbilt’s College Football Playoff hopes remain alive
With the win, Vanderbilt earned its seventh victory ever against a top-10 opponent. The Commodores improved to 6-1 on the season and maintained their spot among the teams competing for the College Football Playoff.
LSU drops to 5-2 with the loss, hurting the Tigers’ playoff hopes in a highly competitive SEC conference. Both teams entered the game at 5-1 with postseason hopes, making the matchup vital to both programs’ championship goals.
