Commodores Tame Tigers: Vanderbilt vs LSU Game Recap

In their best game of the season (so far…) the Vanderbilt Commodores beat the number 10 ranked LSU Tigers by a score of 31-24. It was the first time Vandy has beaten LSU in football since 1990.

​Vanderbilt was led by Diego Pavia, Cole Spence, and MK Young. Pavia completed 14 of 22 passes for 160 yards and 1 touchdown while adding 86 yards and 2 TDs on the ground. Spence had arguably his best game as a Commodore as he ended as Vanderbilt’s leading receiver. He had 5 catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. Spence also didn’t allow a QB pressure in 6 pass blocking reps and threw several key blocks in the run game too, it’s hard to overstate how outstanding he was. Young had 82 yards on 5 carries as he continued to provide Vanderbilt with explosive plays on the ground. 

​Defensively, there were not many standouts in the box score, but Langston Patterson, Joshua Singh, and Mark Davis were the biggest difference makers on that side of the ball. Patterson was the leading tackler for the ‘Dores with 5 tackles, all solo. Singh had 4 tackles, including 1.5 TFLs in what was by far his best game for the ‘Dores. Davis did not allow a completion on 3 targets and also had a crucial TFL late in the game to disrupt one of LSU’s 4th quarter drives.

Game Recap

The much maligned LSU offense had a better day, and much of that was thanks to the improved health of quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. He showed his improved health and ability on the Tigers’ first drive as he diced up Vanderbilt’s secondary in the short passing game in a long drive. A sack by Keanu Koht and consecutive incompletions (caused primarily because of disruption from the D-line) forced LSU to settle for a field goal.

​Vanderbilt’s first possession started out with a bang as Tre Richardson ran back the kickoff 45 yards to the Vanderbilt 43 yard line. From there on it was the Diego Pavia show as he accounted for 52 of the ‘Dores 57 yards on the drive between his legs and arm. He completed two great throws for 19 and 14 yards to Spence and Eli Stowers before a 20 yard scramble took the ‘Dores down to the 1 yard line. Vanderbilt took a 7-3 lead as Pavia snuck it into the endzone and Brock Taylor converted the extra point.

​LSU’s second drive went even better than the first as Nussmeier continued to be surgical and finally got some help from his run game. Several good runs by freshman Harlem Berry and a PI by Kolbey Taylor set LSU up deep in Vanderbilt territory. A coverage bust on what should have been a broken LSU play then allowed Trey’Dez Green to stride into the endzone untouched on a 24 yard catch and run. LSU reclaimed a 3 point lead with the extra point.

​Vanderbilt’s offense continued to look unstoppable in their 2nd drive as they used the ground game to pound the LSU front. The ‘Dores ran the ball on 11 of 14 plays, methodically churning down the field. Pavia had 2 completions on the drive, once again to Stowers and Spence, this time for 13 and 21 yards, respectively. Vanderbilt ended up punching it in on 4th and goal from the 1 thanks to an outstanding effort by Sedrick Alexander. Vanderbilt would maintain their lead for the rest of the game once they went up 14-10.

​Vanderbilt’s defense made their first stand of the day on LSU’s next possession. A 9 yard run by Berry and another long catch and run by Green set the Tigers up at the Vanderbilt 31, but a penalty and stuffed run, and an incompletion forced by more pressure from the ‘Dores forced a 52 yard field goal attempt. The missed field goal kept the game at 14-10.

​The Vandy offense had their first misstep of the day, though, next. The ‘Dores faced a 4th and 1 at their own 44 and elected to hurry up and go for it. The offensive line broke down as no receiver got open and Pavia took an 8 yard sack that gave LSU the ball back at the Vanderbilt 36. Fortunately for Clark Lea and Tim Beck, the defense held strong and forced a field goal from the Tigers as Vanderbilt maintained a slim 14-13 lead.

​With 47 seconds left in the first half, Lea, Beck, and Pavia elected to play aggressive and try to steal some points before the half. On the first play of the possession, Pavia completed a beautiful back-shoulder throw to Junior Sherrill for 25 yards. He then found Richie Hoskins for a 16 yard game down the middle of the field. Already in field goal range with under 20 seconds left, Pavia scrambled for 9 more yards and went out of bounds to give Brock Taylor time to attempt a 46 yard field goal which he nailed. Vanderbilt took a 17-13 lead into halftime.

​Diego Pavia and the Commodores offense got the ball to start the 2nd half and they made the most of it. Another run-heavy drive saw Vanderbilt take the ball down 75 yards over 6 minutes and punch it in to take a commanding 24-13 lead. Sedrick Alexander, Tre Richardson, and MK Young combined for 63 of Vanderbilt’s 75 yards. Young had the highlight play as he took a pitch on an option play 28 yards and set Vandy up in the red zone. The ‘Dores scored on a play action bootleg out of a jumbo package where Cole Spence snuck into the endzone and Pavia found him. 

​LSU responded quickly, though, on what had to be one of the luckiest plays of the season for the Tigers (and unluckiest for the ‘Dores). A completely broken play that saw Garrett Nussmeier throw a weak, wobbling pass with 3 Commodore linemen closing in on him was snagged by Zavion Thomas at the line of scrimmage. Thomas then broke no less than 4 would-be tackles in quick succession (several Vanderbilt defenders also took each other out with some friendly fire) and sprinted all the way to the endzone. LSU converted a 2 point try to close the Vanderbilt lead to 24-21.

​Never rattled, the Vanderbilt offense went and reopened the lead to a 2 score game. The drive was not without drama, though. In a moment extremely reminiscent of the disastrous 1st half 4th down attempt, Vandy went for it from their own 46 on 4th and 1. Pavia was immediately pressured as the DE didn’t bite on the option play. Diego bought time, juked this way and that, then zipped a ball over to MK Young who had leaked out behind the line of scrimmage on the other side of the field. Young took the ball 10 yards on one of the defining plays of the season. A pass interference call then set up the ‘Dores close to the red zone and Pavia scrambled for 21 yards for the touchdown after avoiding a free runner in the backfield. 31 points is the most that the LSU defense had given up all year.

​Despite the game feeling like it was in Vandy’s hands, LSU would not go down without a fight. Running back Caden Durham broke free for a 51 yard rush and looked destined for the end zone before cornerback Jordan Matthews hawked him down at the 2 yard line. 2 stuffed runs, a false start, and an incompletion forced LSU to settle for a field goal and kept a 7 point lead for Vanderbilt at 31-24.

After this point, in a shocking turn, the defenses took over. LSU forced a 3 and out from Vanderbilt as the ‘Dores punted for the first time all afternoon. Vanderbilt’s defense responded by forcing a 3 and out of their own, thanks in large part to a Zaylin Wood sack where he put an offensive tackle on his backside with a bull rush. 

On Vanderbilt’s next possession they had an opportunity to put the game away on 3rd and 4 from their own 47 as Tre Richardson separated from a corner and Pavia saw it. Despite a perfect pass from Pavia, Richardson had the ball hit his fingertips and go incomplete, forcing Vandy to punt again. 

The Vandy defense came through, though. Mark Davis forced a TFL on a screen that got LSU behind the sticks, then pressure from aggressive blitzes called by Steve Gregory forced a short completion and then an incompletion. LSU punted on 4th and 8 from their own 22. 

Pavia and the offense then closed out the game as they drove down the field. MK Young burst free for a 43 yard run on the first play of the possession and Vandy went into full game management from there. Pavia ran the ball for short gains twice before a scramble saw him get free of the LSU containment. Diego smartly slid down at the LSU 1 yard line and allowed Vanderbilt to kneel out the game.

Wrap-Up

The final score may not show it, but the ‘Dores imposed their will on a top 10 team with arguably the best defense in the country, statistically speaking. If it weren’t for two touchdowns on flukey broken plays and Pavia electing to slide at the 1 instead of scoring his 3rd rushing TD of the game, things could’ve gotten ugly for the Tigers. A herculean effort from Garrett Nussmeier and some uncharacteristic mistakes for the Vandy defense were the only reasons this was still a game in the 4th quarter.

​Enjoy this season Vandy fans. It’s a new era on West End.