BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia scored five total touchdowns and led the Commodores to a 35-27 victory over Georgia Tech in the 2024 Birmingham Bowl.

Vanderbilt’s victory in the Birmingham Bowl marks the school’s first postseason victory since the BBVA Compass Bowl at the end of the 2013 season. The Birmingham Bowl victory gives Vanderbilt a record of 7-6 at the end of the 2024 season. It is its first successful season Season for the Commodores since 2013.

The Commodores are now 5-4-1 all-time in bowl games as Vanderbilt played in its first postseason game since the 2018 Texas Bowl. The Dores recorded their first win over Georgia Tech since October 18, 1941. The victory over the Yellow Jackets also brings the Gold Cowbell back to Vanderbilt’s campus for the first time in over 83 years.

Pavia’s five points set a school record for the most touchdowns scored by a Commodore in a bowl game. The quarterback reached the end zone three times through the air and twice on the ground against the Yellow Jackets. In the win, he accumulated 244 total yards, threw for 160 yards and ran for 84 yards.

Vanderbilt accumulated 306 total yards on offense, with the Commodores gaining 146 yards on the ground. The Dores made a complete gain on five of their visits to the red zone. Vandy’s defense suffered two turnovers as safety CJ Taylor intercepted his second pass of the season and defensive lineman Aeneas DiCosmo recovered his first fumble. Linebacker Nick Rinaldi recorded a career-high 10 tackles and had two of Vanderbilt’s three sacks. In total, the Commodores had seven tackles for loss against the Yellow Jackets, led by Rinaldi’s 2.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

The Commodores scored first late in the first quarter when Pavia found tight end Cole Spence for a 7-yard touchdown to cap an 8-play, 87-yard drive. Georgia Tech was able to tie the score on the ensuing possession as the Yellow Jackets went 75 yards downfield in 15 plays.

Vandy regained a 14-7 lead with 1:55 left before halftime after another long drive that ended with 8:06 left. The Dores gained 81 yards on 14 plays while Pavia hit paydirt with a 2-yard rush that gave Vanderbilt the lead by a touchdown. Georgia Tech scored a 43-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half to make the score 14-10 before halftime.

A 33-yard field goal by the Yellow Jackets cut Vandy’s lead to 14-13 midway through the third quarter. Vanderbilt extended its lead to 21-13 in the final minute of the third period after Pavia found tight end Eli Stowers in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown reception.

The Commodore defense got the ball back before the end of the third when Taylor intercepted a pass at the Georgia Tech 33-yard line and returned it 22 yards to get the Vandy offense going 11 yards from the end zone bring. It took three plays for Vanderbilt to hit paydirt after the Taylor pick, as Pavia connected with wide receiver Quincy Skinner Jr. for a 7-yard score that gave the Dores a 28-13 lead just five seconds into the fourth quarter .

The Vandy defense scored its second straight turnover moments later. Edge Mile Capers forced a fumble and DiCosmo recovered at the Commodore 27-yard line to give the ball back to Vanderbilt with 13:40 to play. The Dores again quickly capitalized on the turnover, scoring in six plays, while Pavia’s 6-yard rushing touchdown gave Vanderbilt a 35-13 lead with 9:59 left.

Bad weather brought the 2024 Birmingham Bowl to a halt at the 7:17 mark of the fourth quarter as teams waited out a lightning delay. Georgia Tech scored back-to-back touchdowns after the intermission, extending Vanderbilt’s lead to 35-27 with 1:30 to play.

Georgia Tech needed an onside kick and kicked the ball out of bounds to give the Commodores possession for good. Vanderbilt took a knee in the final 90 seconds to secure its first bowl victory in nine seasons.

For more information and exclusive content on the Vanderbilt football team, follow @VandyFB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.