Vanderbilt Upsets Georgia On Homecoming, 24-22
October 14, 2006 | Football
ATHENS, Ga. – Kicker Bryant Hahnfeldt’s field goal with two seconds remaining lifted Vanderbilt to a 24-22 win over No. 16 Georgia on Saturday at Sanford Stadium.
“The bottom line is they played better than us,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “They made the plays when they needed to. Vanderbilt is a good football team. They’ve been knocking on the door and finally knocked it in on us.”
Hahnfeldt converted from 33 yards away as the Commodores (3-4 overall, 1-3 SEC) handed the Bulldogs their first back-to-back losses at home since the end of the 1995 season. It also was Georgia’s first Homecoming loss since 1994.
“We have to regroup and talk about our goals,” senior offensive tackle Daniel Inman said. “We know this team can pull it together. The tradition is here and this team has the potential to bring it together.”
The Bulldogs (5-2 overall, 2-2 SEC) had pulled ahead in the fourth quarter on linebacker Tony Taylor’s 24-yard interception return with 9:22 remaining. Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s two-point conversion rush attempt was stopped short and the Bulldogs led 22-21.
Georgia’s lone offensive touchdown came on a 23-yard scoring pass to tight end Martrez Milner from quarterback Joe Tereshinski in the second quarter.
Tereshinski went 11-of-17 for 151 yards and the touchdown, while Stafford was 9-of-13 for 86 yards. Tailback Thomas Brown paced the Bulldogs with 75 yards rushing before leaving the game with a knee injury.
Kicker Andy Bailey converted three field goals for the Bulldogs, covering 23, 20 and 19 yards.
For the Commodores, quarterback Chris Nickson threw a pair of touchdown passes and tailback Cassen Jackson-Garrison had a scoring run. Nickson went 15-of-29 for 190 yards, while Jackson-Garrison rushed for 38 yards.
“Every week it seems like it comes down to someone making the plays, and today we made those plays,” Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said. “We overcame some adversities today and won the game. You have got to battle back from mistakes and we did that today.”
“This is a huge win for us, especially going on the road in the SEC and picking up a win,” Hahnfeldt said. “Georgia is a top-15 team, and to win at their Homecoming is big for us and our program.”
Georgia will entertain Mississippi State next Saturday in a 1 p.m. contest.
