Vanderbilt Football outlasted Auburn 45-38 in an overtime thriller Saturday at FirstBank Stadium, securing one of the most dramatic wins of head coach Clark Lea’s tenure and keeping its playoff hopes alive and strong. The victory improves the Commodores to 8-2 on the season.
In a game full of momentum swings, Vanderbilt came alive in the second half and in overtime, erasing an early 17-3 deficit. Quarterback Diego Pavia once again led the charge as signal caller, throwing for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns while scrambling for another 112 and a score, all without turning the ball over. Tight end Eli Stowers was Pavia’s go-to target, hauling in 12 passes for 122 yards.
“[Pavia] took the game,” Lea said in the postgame. “I’ve said it at this podium before, but in our minds, he’s the best player in the country. He found a way to win a game for us tonight.”…