Vanderbilt football overcame a significant challenge in their season opener against Virginia Tech on Saturday, rebounding from a 17-point lead to secure a 34-27 victory in overtime.
During the overtime period, Vanderbilt received the ball first, with transfer quarterback Diego Pavia orchestrating a touchdown drive that culminated in a 4-yard quarterback keeper for the score. Virginia Tech’s attempt to respond fell short as quarterback Colin Schlee’s fourth-down pass sailed out of the end zone, sealing the win for the Commodores.
Vanderbilt established a strong 17-0 advantage in the first half, but Virginia Tech managed to score just before halftime. The Hokies dominated the second half, capitalizing on Vanderbilt’s offensive struggles and executing successful deep passes.
With 4:21 left in the fourth quarter, Virginia Tech captured its first lead thanks to a 62-yard touchdown pass from Kyron Drones to Ali Jennings. Vanderbilt did not back down, driving the field to score a touchdown with 1:51 remaining, opting for an extra point rather than a two-point conversion.
Vanderbilt’s defense forced a three-and-out, allowing them another chance to score. However, a missed field goal attempt by Brock Taylor sent the game into overtime.
In his debut, Diego Pavia showed his potential as a runner, effectively utilizing zone-reads and bootlegs to exploit the defense. He also contributed by handing the ball off to Sedrick Alexander, who made notable plays in the red zone.
Under the leadership of coach Clark Lea, Vanderbilt’s defense displayed improvements, particularly in run defense, though the pass defense still has areas for growth. The team struggled with defensive penalties, with personal fouls called against players like CJ Taylor and Langston Patterson.
Despite not losing any fumbles, Vanderbilt had three mishandles during misdirection plays, with Pavia recovering two and Junior Sherrill recovering the third.
In addition to the game highlights, Vanderbilt fans are eager for updates on the ongoing stadium construction as they look ahead to the 2024 season.