Vanderbilt Football (6-4, 3-3) struggled offensively in Week 11, losing to South Carolina (6-4, 4-3) by a score of 28-7 on a rainy Saturday in Nashville. The Commodores managed only 83 total yards in the first half and were unable to contain South Carolina’s dominant rushing attack, led by Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, who racked up 178 total yards and three touchdowns. South Carolina’s offense amassed over 400 yards throughout the game.
The situation worsened for Vanderbilt when star quarterback Diego Pavia left the game midway through the fourth quarter after getting hit on a pass play. While the Commodores stayed competitive for much of the game, their inconsistent offensive performance ultimately led to their downfall.
Pavia and the Commodores received the ball first after South Carolina won the toss and deferred. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck opted for ground plays in the damp conditions at FirstBank Stadium. Pavia and Sedrick Alexander moved the team to midfield with some successful rushes, but the drive stalled, resulting in a punt after two short runs and an incomplete pass due to pressure from the Gamecocks’ strong defensive line.
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers quickly got to work, connecting with Gage Larvadain for a first down. Vanderbilt’s defense forced a third down, but Sellers found Nyck Harbor to keep the drive alive. After a deflected pass nearly led to an interception, Sellers scrambled but was forced out of bounds by Randon Fontenette.
FirstBank Stadium erupted when Alex Herrera missed a 42-yard field goal, leaving the score tied at 0-0. Pavia connected with Eli Stowers for a first down on the following possession, but the Commodores struggled again, and Mirco punted after two incompletions—only to have the ball ruled a touchback instead of pinning South Carolina deep.
Starting a new drive, South Carolina’s offense faced a false start penalty. Sellers managed to evade a sack before Miles Capers forced a fumble that Langston Patterson recovered, giving Vanderbilt a red zone opportunity. However, two plays later, Kyle Kennard stripped the ball from Pavia, and South Carolina regained possession.
Sanders quickly moved the Gamecocks into the Commodores’ territory with strong runs but was tackled just short on a third-down attempt, which they converted easily on the next play. Sellers then found Harbor for a 23-yard gain, followed by a touchdown pass to Simon, capping a 12-play, 81-yard drive to put South Carolina ahead 7-0.
Vanderbilt’s defense, already fatigued, got another chance to regroup but couldn’t sustain any offensive momentum. A punt brought South Carolina back to their 9-yard line, where Oscar Adaway III’s rush kept things moving for the Gamecocks.
With just five minutes left in the half and still scoreless, Vanderbilt began their drive from the 12-yard line. South Carolina’s defense dominated again, but on third down, Pavia completed a pass to Quincy Skinner Jr. before the two-minute warning.
After halftime, Vanderbilt hoped for a fresh start. Pavia connected with Skinner Jr. and Junior Sherrill for key gains, then rushed for 16 yards, bringing the team close to the red zone. Facing a third down, Pavia executed a pump fake, escaping a sack and rushing into the end zone, narrowing the deficit to 14-7.
However, South Carolina responded immediately, with Sanders pushing through for a 39-yard gain, setting up his second touchdown of the game. Despite a 33-yard connection from Pavia to Alexander on the next drive, Vanderbilt couldn’t convert on fourth down, leading to a turnover.
South Carolina couldn’t capitalize on the great field position and had to punt. Hight nearly fumbled a return but recovered, keeping possession for Vanderbilt. Pavia connected with multiple receivers but faced a tough fourth down that led to another turnover.
With less than 10 minutes remaining and a 14-point deficit, South Carolina scored on a 43-yard screen pass to Sanders, expanding the lead to 28-7. Pavia took a hard hit on the next series and exited the game, leaving sophomore quarterback Nate Johnson to finish it out.
In the end, South Carolina’s rushing dominance, highlighted by Sanders’ 126 yards and two touchdowns, proved insurmountable for Vanderbilt, who finished with 274 total yards compared to the Gamecocks’ 441. The score remained 28-7 as the game came to a close, and Vanderbilt will now seek to regroup during their Week 12 bye before facing LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Nov. 23.
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