Vanderbilt notches first winning season since 2013 with bowl win against Georgia Tech

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Final: Quarterback Diego Pavia’s introductory season to Vanderbilt only got sweeter as the Commodores drew closer to the win. He connected with Quincy Skinner Jr. on the very first play of the 4th quarter to extend Vanderbilt’s lead to 28-13.

The script of the second half repeated itself as Georgia Tech again turned the ball over following a Vanderbilt touchdown. Malik Rutherford gashed the Commodores for a big gain before Miles Capers punched the ball free. Aeneas DiCosmo was there for the recovery.

Leading by two possessions and with the clock ticking, Vanderbilt had no interest in running the ball simply to chew clock. The Commodores zipped down the field in 6 plays, resulting in another Pavia rushing touchdown, his fifth time in the end zone Friday.

The score extends Vanderbilt’s lead to 35-13.

While the win seemed to be inevitable, the wait would be a little longer than expected as a lightning delay put a pause on this game.

When the game restarted, the Yellowjackets took a step closer in the game. Haynes King connected with Jamal Haynes to make it 35-20 with 5:03 to play.

Georgia Tech managed one last punch in the match with less than two minutes to play. King found Bailey Stockton from two yards out to cut Vanderbilt’s lead to eight. But that’s the closest the Yellowjackets would get.

Vanderbilt would recover the onside kickoff, tying up the Birmingham Bowl in a black and gold bow. It is Vanderbilt’s first win in a bowl game since January of 2014.

3rd quarter update: Yellow hankies ruled the tone of a temper-fueled 3rd quarter in Birmingham.

Vanderbilt used three penalties in a five-play, 56-yard drive to move 40 yards. Diego Pavia hit Eli Stowers with a TD pass in the endzone.

Then C.J. Taylor picked off Haynes King on the Yellow Jackets’ ensuing possession.

The Commodores lead 21-13. Pavia is up to 156 total yards and three total touchdowns in the game.

Halftime update: Vanderbilt leads Georgia Tech 14-10 after two quarters in the Birmingham Bowl.

Diego Pavia ran in the Commodores’ second touchdown of the day, capping a 14-play, 81-yard scoring drive.

Pavia now has 118 total yards of offense.

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King has 60 yards passing through two quarters, including a short TD toss to tight end Ryland Goede to tie the game at seven.

1st quarter update: After the first quarter, Vanderbilt leads Georgia Tech 7-0.

Diego Pavia threw a touchdown pass to Cole Spence to give the ‘Dores the lead to conclude an 8-play, 87-yard drive.

Pavia has 83 total yards from scrimmage so far in the game.

The Vanderbilt University Commodores will face off against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Birmingham Bowl.

The Commodores are looking to finish with a winning season for the first time since 2013.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia learned earlier this month that he’d been granted an extra year of eligibility. So, this will not be his final game in the black and gold.

Friday’s game will be played at Protective Stadium in Birmingham at 2:30 p.m. and will air on ESPN.

The ‘Dores are in postseason play for the first time since 2018, when they lost to Baylor 45-38 in the Texas Bowl. This is only the 10th time in Vanderbilt’s history that they are heading to a bowl game.

Vanderbilt will have played six of its 10 bowl games in Alabama or Tennessee with their return to the Birmingham Bowl.

The ‘Dores and the Yellow Jackets last met in 2016, with Tech winning 38-7.