ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia's defense gave up more yards than it has all
season. Not to worry.
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| QB Quincy Carter (center) celebrates a score before leaving with a left separated shoulder.(AP) | |
The No. 14 Bulldogs 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 past 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 ran 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 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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