Vanderbilt football faced a challenging start in its season opener against Virginia Tech on Saturday, initially taking a 17-point lead in the second quarter before ultimately securing a 34-27 victory in overtime.
In the extra period, Vanderbilt received the ball first, and transfer quarterback Diego Pavia directed a successful touchdown drive, punctuated by a four-yard rushing score. Virginia Tech’s Colin Schlee then faced a crucial fourth-down situation but his pass sailed out of the end zone, sealing the win for the Commodores.
Vanderbilt’s strong start generated a 17-0 advantage in the first half, but Virginia Tech managed to score just before halftime. The Hokies gained momentum in the second half, outplaying Vanderbilt as their offense found success with deep passes.
Virginia Tech claimed its first lead in the fourth quarter when Kyron Drones connected with Ali Jennings for a 62-yard touchdown pass with 4:21 remaining. Vanderbilt responded by driving down the field and scoring a touchdown with 1:51 left on the clock, opting for an extra point rather than a two-point conversion.
The Commodores’ defense then forced Virginia Tech into a three-and-out, allowing Vanderbilt to set up a field goal attempt, which Brock Taylor unfortunately missed, sending the game into overtime.
Pavia demonstrated a significant impact in his debut, primarily utilizing his running ability. The coaching staff strategically employed his arm sparingly while emphasizing his role as a runner, effectively confusing the defense with varied formations and plays. He also facilitated runs for Sedrick Alexander, who showcased impressive moves in the red zone.
Defensively, Vanderbilt showed improvement under coach Clark Lea’s direction, particularly in run defense. However, the team will need to address a number of personal fouls and penalties that marred their performance, with players like CJ Taylor and Langston Patterson flagged for infractions. The pass defense will also require refinement, as they struggled with Virginia Tech’s deep passing attack, which included a significant 44-yard completion that set up the game-tying touchdown.
Vanderbilt encountered issues with ball security as well, recording three fumbles during the game. Although they did not lose possession on any fumble, Pavia managed to recover two himself, while Junior Sherrill retrieved the third.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on social media @aria_gerson.