Dawgs Avert Disaster: Recapping a Wild One in Nashville

The Georgia Bulldogs traveled into Dudley Field on Saturday to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores, hoping to improve their four game win-streak to five.

What many experts picked to be a blowout win for Georgia turned into a close one in which they were forced to come up with a big defensive stop to save the game, and probably their season.

Coming into the game, Vanderbilt had failed to beat Georgia in over 20 years in Nashville. But the Commodores certainly made things interesting.

The Bulldogs took an early 3-0 lead after senior kicker Blair Walsh knocked home a 53-yard field goal attempt. Walsh added three more field goals, finishing the night 4/6.

Georgia sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray had a career day throwing the ball. Murray threw three touchdown passes and finished with 326 passing yards and just one interception. Two of the touchdown passes were to wide receiver Marlon Brown, the other to wide receiver Tavarres King--following an Orson Charles blocked punt. 

Bulldog running backs Isaiah Crowell and Richard Samuel were kept in check by the Commodores, finishing with a combined total of only 88 yards.

The Bulldogs, who defensively had only allowed two touchdowns in their previous four games, weren't the dominating force they've been as of late. But they were able to force mistakes and come up with big plays when they needed them.

Vanderbilt's best offense seemed to come from their bag of trick plays where they got two of their three touchdowns.

The first on a 43-yard halfback pass from Zac Stacy to receiver Jordan Matthews, and the other on a 35-yard fake punt pass. Andre Hal also returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown after Georgia took its biggest lead of the game at 23-7.

Trailing 33-28 with 14 seconds left on the game clock, Vanderbilt wide receiver Udom Umoh blocked Drew Butler's punt, giving them the ball inside the 20 with seven seconds left. A substitution penalty forced them back to the 25 yard-line before they got their first play off.

After Bacarri Rambo broke up the potential game-winning touchdown pass in the end zone, Vandy quarterback Jordan Rodgers was pressured by the Georgia defense, forcing his last pass short to tight end Brandon Barden, who was tackled at the 16 to end the game 33-28. 

Georgia may not have won the way they were supposed to, but in the nation's best conference you can't be too picky with your victories. A win is a win.

The Bulldogs get a much needed bye this week before they travel to Jacksonville to take on their rival Florida Gators.