Sedrick Van Pran breaks tackle, runs for first down after recovering fumble

Georgia started a bit slow on offense vs. Vanderbilt, but finally found their spark when starting center Sedrick Van Pran turned a near-disaster into a glorious first down run.

On a third down and one at their own 38 yard-line, quarterback Carson Beck fumbled the snap — but Van Pran was johnny on the spot and immediately scooped up the ball and ran for six yards. Well, you may not call it a “run” but he whirled and twirled and barreled his way for the huge first down.

You just have to take a look at this bizarre but awesome play:

A first down run by the….CENTER?!?! pic.twitter.com/a0WxpiYDzv

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 14, 2023

Thanks to another big conversion on third and short by Kendall Milton that ended up the Georgia running back out of bounds just before the goal line, the Dawgs went on and punched through for their first touchdown of the day to tie the game at 7-7.

Clark Lea speaks at the end of the first quarter

Clark Lea and Vanderbilt got off to a hot early start against No. 1 Georgia, taking advantage of an early coverage bust to go up 7-0 before a defensive stop gave the Commodores the opportunity to do even further damage.

Unfortunately for the ‘Dores, they couldn’t take full advantage of a Carson Beck fumble on his own side of the field, ultimately missing a 47-yard field goal.

“Well we’ve just got to keep playing,” Lea told CBS’ Tiffany Blackmon after the first quarter ended. “I mean there’s obviously a lot of football left. I would have loved to seen us take advantage of the short field. But we’ll have more opportunities as we go.”

Vanderbilt nearly got another one of those opportunities on the Georgia drive following the field goal miss, as a botched snap between center Sedrick Van Pran and Beck temporarily put the ball on the turf.

Instead of a Commodores player being able to jump on top of it, though, Van Pran scooped it up and stumbled forward for a handful of yards, picking up a first down on third-and-3.

The Bulldogs would finish off the drive with a touchdown moments later, early in the second quarter, making it 14-7 Georgia.

Still, Vanderbilt will feel like it has some chances against Georgia after the strong first quarter. Lea encouraged his players to stay locked in and keep taking it play by play.

“We just have to be in the moment and play snap to snap, that’s going to be the formula for us to keep this thing tight and have a chance to win it late,” Clark Lea said.