Diego Pavia has career night in Vanderbilt's win over Kentucky
NASHVILLE 鈥� Albuquerque native threw for a career-high 484 yards and five touchdowns and No. 12 Vanderbilt beat Kentucky 45-17 Saturday as the Commodores kept their hopes for a alive going into the regular-season finale.
鈥淭his needed to be a statement win for us,鈥� Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said.
Pavia, who struck yet another Heisman Trophy poise celebrating with teammates, set the program record, topping the 464 yards Whit Taylor had at Tennessee in 1981. Pavia also ran for 48 more yards and a sixth score.
鈥淗e鈥檚 the best player in the country and deserves to be in the Heisman conversation,鈥� Lea said of Pavia. 鈥淗e tips the field when he steps on it. There鈥檚 only a few players in the world that when the ball鈥檚 in your hand that they can take over a game, and he鈥檚 done that repeatedly here.鈥�
(9-2, 5-2, No. 14 CFP) has its most wins since 2013 and first with nine in the regular season since 1915. This is just the Commodores鈥� fifth nine-win season all time, and they go into their regular-season finale needing a victory for the first 10-win season in program history.
The Commodores also wrapped up a 7-0 record for Vanderbilt鈥檚 first undefeated home schedule since 1982 and only the fourth since 1945.
Tre Richardson had six catches for 159 yards and three TDs.
Martel Hight had two of three interceptions as Vanderbilt won for the third time in four games in this series.
(5-6, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) had its three-game winning streak snapped. Coach Mark Stoops called the loss discouraging and credited Vanderbilt.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a very good football team in all areas,鈥� Stoops said. 鈥淎 very physical team that鈥檚 definitely worthy of being in the playoffs with a quarterback that is something else, that鈥檚 for sure.鈥�
Pavia, who went through Senior Day ceremonies pregame, made sure Vanderbilt never trailed. He was on the field for a series starting with 9:39 left before walking to the sideline for hugs as fans chanted his name after his big game.
He hit Richardson in stride for a and a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter on his longest pass completion in his two seasons at Vanderbilt.
He helped the Commodores score 21 points in the second and third quarters.
The Vanderbilt quarterback has been at his best for three straight games. He has 1,226 yards passing with 11 TDs and only one interception in this stretch. He also has run for 203 yards with three more scores.
鈥淎 lot of people didn鈥檛 think I could pass, you know, and check these last three games out,鈥� Pavia said. 鈥淲hen they let me throw, it speaks for itself. But yeah, I just want the NFL to know too like I鈥檓 NFL ready, and I want my chance.鈥�
