Unpacking Vanderbilt football's loss to Georgia, with Jared Curtis sidelined to injury

ATHENS, GA ― Despite a strong first half, Vanderbilt football fell to No. 2-ranked Georgia 38-14 on Oct. 3 at Sanford Stadium.

Jared Curtis vs. Georgia was one of the most anticipated matchups of the college football weekend given that Curtis had been committed to the Bulldogs prior to flipping to Vanderbilt. But Curtis didn't play due to an undisclosed injury, leading to Blaze Berlowitz getting his third start of the season.

The Commodores (3-2, 0-2 SEC) played well during the first half, trailing by just seven at halftime and even outgaining Georgia (5-0, 3-0) in the half. But in the second half, the Bulldogs took over and held Vanderbilt scoreless.

Georgia finished the game with 471 total yards to Vanderbilt's 293.

Blaze Berlowitz gets the start for Vanderbilt

Berlowitz started the first two games of the season, but Curtis took over afterward, a switch that even led Berlowitz to take snaps at wide receiver in a loss to Auburn.

Berlowitz was largely effective in the first half. He excelled at evading pressure, getting sacked only one time, and frequently found open receivers when plays broke down. He also completed a 60-yard pass, which was Vanderbilt's longest play of the season.

Berlowitz went 12-for-23 passing for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He ran eight times for 37 yards.

Vanderbilt football's Un-Luckie plays

During one play in the third quarter, Vanderbilt nearly got a third-down stop by tipping a pass, but that pass landed right into the hands of receiver Lawson Luckie, who turned it into a 43-yard gain. Georgia ultimately scored a touchdown on that drive.

On the ensuing drive for the Commodores, Junior Sherrill, who finished with seven catches for 107 yards and a TD, was originally ruled to have caught a fourth-down pass, but after review, the play was overturned into a turnover on downs.

After Georgia kicked a field goal on its ensuing drive, Berlowitz threw a decent pass attempt, but defensive back Ellis Robinson made an excellent play on it to get the interception.

Vanderbilt's run defense strong

Vanderbilt's run defense performed well, rendering the Bulldogs ineffective in rushing. At the same time, quarterback Gunner Stockton was extremely efficient, able to make both explosive plays and quick checkdowns.

No Georgia player had over 31 rush yards until late in the fourth quarter when Bo Walker broke a 59-yard run to finish with 71 yards. Stockton finished 25-for-32 for 295 passing yards and three touchdowns. That included five targets to Dwight Phillips Jr., who had five catches for 75 yards and a TD.

On the Commodores' next drive, what was originally Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Unpacking Vanderbilt football's loss to Georgia, with Jared Curtis sidelined to injury