NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Diego Pavia threw for a career-high 484 yards and 5 touchdowns and No. 12 Vanderbilt beat Kentucky 45-17 Saturday because the Commodores stored their hopes for a School Soccer Playoff berth alive going into the regular-season finale.
“This wanted to be a press release win for us,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea stated.
Pavia, who struck one more Heisman Trophy pose celebrating with teammates, set this system file, topping the 464 yards Whit Taylor had at Tennessee in 1981. Pavia additionally ran for 48 extra yards and a sixth rating.
“He is the perfect participant within the nation and deserves to be within the Heisman dialog,” Lea stated of Pavia. “He ideas the sector when he steps on it. There’s only some gamers on the planet that when the ball’s in your hand that they will take over a sport, and he is accomplished that repeatedly right here.”
Vanderbilt (9-2, 5-2, No. 14 CFP) has its most wins since 2013, when a bowl win was wanted to succeed in 9 victories. That is simply the Commodores’ fifth nine-win season, they usually go into their regular-season finale needing a victory for the primary 10-win season in program historical past.
The Commodores additionally wrapped up a 7-0 file for Vanderbilt’s first undefeated dwelling schedule since 1982 and solely the fourth since 1945.
Tre Richardson had six catches for 159 yards and three TDs.
Martel Hight had two of three interceptions as Vanderbilt received for the third time in 4 video games on this sequence.
Kentucky (5-6, 2-6 Southeastern Convention) snapped a three-game profitable streak. Coach Mark Stoops referred to as the loss discouraging and credited Vanderbilt.
“That is an excellent soccer workforce in all areas,” Stoops stated. “A really bodily workforce that is undoubtedly worthy of being within the playoffs with a quarterback that’s one thing else, that is for certain.”
Pavia, who went by Senior Day ceremonies pregame, made certain Vanderbilt by no means trailed. He was on the sector for a sequence beginning with 9:39 left earlier than strolling to the sideline for hugs as followers chanted his title after his huge sport.
He hit Richardson in stride for a 71-yard catch-and-run TD and a 10-0 lead early within the second on his longest go completion in his two seasons at Vanderbilt. He helped Vanderbilt rating 21 factors within the second and third quarters.
“I really feel like I am the perfect participant in faculty soccer proper now,” Pavia stated.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
