Georgia State upsets Vanderbilt at home, first marquee win under McGhee

The Georgia State Panthers upset the Vanderbilt Commodores 36-32 after a game winning touchdown pass from quarterback Christian Veilleux to receiver Ted Hurst.

This win marks the second time the Panthers have defeated a SEC team, with their last coming against Tennessee in 2019. It is the first marquee win under first year head coach Dell McGee.

“I’m really proud of our kids,” McGee said after the win. “Our guys are resilient and kept fighting and kept believing and that’s a part of a championship football team.”

“You [have] to credit Georgia State, they did what they needed to do to win that game,” said Commodores head coach Clark Lea after the game. I don’t think we deserved to win it. We need to learn some important lessons about what kind of team we are and what it’s going to take for us to win.”

Vanderbilt did not play a clean game

Lea alluded to sloppiness on the offensive side of the ball. The Commodores finished the game with nine penalties for 85 yards.

The Panthers led up until 1:14 in the fourth quarter. The Commodores took their first lead of the game with a goal line rushing touchdown by running back Sedrick Alexander. The Commodores converted on the two point conversion, taking a 32-29 three point lead.

McGee and Hurst were knew the offense could go for the win instead of tying the game.

“We’ve been here before, we’ve done this,” the mindset McGee had going into the last drive. “I had great confidence we could move the ball and the looks we prepared for in the one minute offense. Everyone contributed to the drive so it was a great team victory.”

“The moment they scored, I was like we can win this,” Hurst said. “I didn’t want to go to overtime. I [didn’t] want to give them a chance that they could beat us.”

The Panthers offense moved the ball efficiently and with a high sense of urgency on the ensuing drive. Hurst capped off the seven play, 75 yard drive catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Veilleux putting the Panthers back in front.

“Overnight I manifested in it,” said Hurst on making the game winning touchdown catch. “[I knew] I could make that play. It does boost my confidence.”

The Panthers outgained the Commodores on the ground 157-110 and finished the game with 426 yards of total offense.

On Deck

Georgia State heads into the bye week next weekend before hosting Georgia Southern on Sep. 28. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt will travel to Columbia next weekend to face the Missouri Tigers.

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