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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Georgia's defense gave up more yards than it
has all season. Not to worry.
|  | | Georgia's Terreal Bierria (15) battles teammate Tim Wansley, who scored twice against Vandy from his cornerback spot. |
The Bulldogs (No. 13 ESPN/USA Today, No. 14 AP) came through with enough big plays to remain
in contention for a Southeastern Conference championship.
Cornerback Tim Wansley scored twice, Jamie Henderson blocked two
kicks and Georgia won its fourth in a row with a sluggish 29-19
victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday.
"It was kind of like an eye for an eye," said Wansley, who has
four interceptions in the last three games. "Vandy got some big
plays on offense, so we had to get some big plays in the
secondary."
Wansley and fellow cornerback Henderson sparked the Bulldogs
(5-1, 3-1 SEC), who struggled offensively and lost quarterback
Quincy Carter with a separated left shoulder in the fourth quarter.
After Vandy (2-5, 0-4) capped the opening drive with Jared
McGrath's 2-yard touchdown run, Henderson broke free from the left
side to block John Markham's extra-point attempt.
The ball bounced right into the arms of Wansley, who scooted 86
yards the other way to give Georgia two points.
Wansley struck again in the second quarter with Vandy, trailing
only 16-13, facing second-and-1 at the Georgia 41. Greg Zolman
tried a quick sideline pass to Dan Stricker, but the Georgia
cornerback stepped in front to make the interception, returning 62
yards for a touchdown.
Henderson made another block to prevent Vandy from getting
within a touchdown in the fourth quarter, smothering a 52-yard
field-goal attempt by Markham.
"We've been working on my stance all week," Henderson said.
"I looked at the snap and timed it to come off at the right time.
That was the key. No one got a hand on me."
Vandy hardly looked like the SEC's lowest-scoring team,
averaging only 15 points through its first six games.
The Commodores piled up 442 yards against Georgia's defense,
which ranked fourth nationally at 233.6 per contest. Vandy eclipsed
that figure before halftime and went by Georgia's previous high --
287 yards in a loss to South Carolina -- early in the third quarter.
But Zolman was intercepted three times and Stricker lost a
fumble at the Georgia 20 to ruin another scoring chance in the
first quarter.
The Bulldogs had just 307 yards but no turnovers.
"Our offense moved the ball up and down the field," Vandy
linebacker Jamie Winborn said. "I don't think Georgia beat us. We
beat ourselves. We are better than a 2-5 team."
The previous week, Georgia snapped a nine-game losing streak
against Tennessee with a 21-10 victory, leading to a raucous
celebration that left Sanford Stadium's famous hedges in tatters.
The emotions weren't nearly as high for the homecoming game
against Vanderbilt, which is only one loss away from its 18th
straight losing season.
"You can't just snap your fingers and win the game," Georgia
coach Jim Donnan said. "It never bothers me how much we win by."
Carter, the SEC's 10th-rated passer, threw a 67-yard touchdown
pass to Terrence Edwards in the first quarter. Edwards made a nifty
move to escape three defenders and slowed up enough to get a key
block from LaBrone Mitchell.
"I was going to try to outrun them to the end zone," said
Edwards, who had five receptions for 135 yards. "Then I saw
LaBrone coming."
Carter got a TD of his own with an 8-yard run in the second
period. Otherwise, it was another long day for the Bulldogs
quarterback, who completed only 12-of-30 passes for 215 yards
before getting hurt on a run with about 13 minutes remaining.
"When you see your leader on the ground, your heart stops a
little bit," Edwards said.
Carter was knocked out of bounds by Winborn and at least two
other Vandy defenders, remaining down for several minutes. He was
taken to the hospital for X-rays, his status questionable for next
Saturday's game at Kentucky.
Cory Phillips finished up for the Bulldogs. The sophomore has
played only five games in his college career, completing 2-of-6
passes.
Zolman, who was 28-of-42 for 334 yards, connected with Stricker
on a 22-yard touchdown pass to give Vandy a 13-9 lead with 2:40
remaining in the first quarter.
Carter's touchdown run, with 9:50 left before halftime, put
Georgia ahead to stay. The Commodores remained within striking
distance until Billy Bennett connected on his second field goal for
the Bulldogs, a 30-yarder with 12:48 remaining.
Markham kicked a pair of 22-yard field goals for Vanderbilt.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Vanderbilt Clubhouse
Georgia Clubhouse
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