Vanderbilt Football Dominates No. 11 South Carolina in Historic Road Victory
Vanderbilt football achieved a resounding 31-7 victory over No. 11 South Carolina on Saturday night, marking the program’s largest margin of victory in series history and snapping a 16-game losing streak against the Gamecocks. The win propels the Commodores to a 3-0 record,their best start since 2017,and a 1-0 record in SEC play.
The victory at Williams-Brice Stadium represents a notable milestone for Vanderbilt, being their first conference opener win since 2011 against Ole Miss. Head coach Clark Lea has orchestrated a remarkable start to the season, leading his team to three consecutive wins by a margin of 20 or more points – a feat the program hasn’t accomplished as 1930.
Pavia and Alexander Lead the Offensive Charge
Graduate quarterback Diego Pavia continued his impressive form, delivering a multi-touchdown performance with two touchdowns and 177 passing yards on 18 of 25 attempts. Pavia is the first Vanderbilt quarterback as Jordan Rodgers in 2012 to record four consecutive games with multiple passing touchdowns.
Complementing Pavia’s performance was junior running back Sedrick Alexander, who also found the endzone twice. This marks the second consecutive season Alexander has scored in each of the opening three games. The Commodores’ opening drive set the tone, culminating in an 18-yard pass from Pavia to Alexander, marching 73 yards in nine plays.
Dominant Defense Seals the Deal
Vanderbilt’s defense proved equally formidable, delivering a third-straight “lockdown performance” and stifling the South Carolina offense for the majority of the game. The Gamecocks’ lone score came early in the contest, with vanderbilt holding them scoreless for the final 34:02 of game time. The commodores forced a season-high four turnovers, the most since securing four against Missouri in 2022.
“The defense really stepped up tonight,” a senior official stated. – Pro tip: Focus on turnovers; they were key to Vanderbilt’s success.
Key moments and Individual Performances
The Commodores extended their lead to 14-7 at halftime after Pavia connected with junior wideout Junior Sherrill on a five-yard pass. Early in the second half,sophomore Jamezell Lassiter broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run,showcasing his explosive speed. Lassiter’s two rushes this season have both gone for at least 35 yards and resulted in touchdowns.
Junior kicker Brock Taylor added to the lead with a 51-yard field goal, extending his consecutive make streak to 14 – tied for the third-longest in FBS. Alexander sealed the victory with his second touchdown of the night with 5:29 remaining.
Defensively, sophomore CJ Heard led the team with a season-high 12 tackles. senior Nick Rinaldi recorded 2.5 tackles for a loss, including his eighth career sack, while junior Randon Fontenette added two stops behind the line. Several Commodore defenders achieved career milestones: graduate Zaylin Wood secured his first interception, senior Bryce Cowan forced his first career fumble, and seniors Miles Capers and junior Jordan matthews both recorded their first career fumble recoveries. Vanderbilt limited South Carolina to just 86 rushing yards, a season low for the Gamecocks.
vanderbilt will return home next Saturday to host Georgia State, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m.and coverage on ESPNU. For more information and exclusive content, fans can follow @VandyFootball on Instagram, facebook, and Twitter/X.
