Clark Lea recalls memories watching Diego Pavia vs. Auburn at New Mexico State

The Vanderbilt Commodores are getting ready to hit the road against the Auburn Tigers, the program’s first game on The Plains since 2016. While some of his teammates might be unacquainted with the Tigers, quarterback Diego Pavia already knows what it takes to pull off the road upset of Auburn.

Last season, while leading the New Mexico State Aggies, Diego Pavia was able to knock off the host Tigers. Vanderbilt ead coach Clark Lea saw that game and, as he shared memories of watching it, explained what he saw from Pavia in the win.

“I watched that film in December or, I guess, November last year after the game,” Clark Lea said. “I haven’t seen anything recently. That team, New Mexico State a year ago, did a great job going in and winning a tough game on the road. Certainly, just like he’s been here, Diego’s been an integral part of that.”

New Mexico State scored 31 points in their win over Auburn. Pavia threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the win. He also rushed for 35 yards. Beyond the numbers, he showed Lea just how tough a player he is while making a tackle.

“That probably was one of my favorite, before I knew Diego, when I saw him,” Lea said of the Auburn film. “He threw an interception early and like suplexed the linebacker on the sideline. That was a play that always stood out to me with respect to the toughness of the team that I was watching. Come to know Diego, that’s just a part of his personality.”

Despite the way last season’s game against New Mexico State went, Clark Lea did go on to emphasize that Auburn has improved.

“So, we haven’t spent any time on that, nor will we,” Lea said. “This is a new year, a new team, and a new challenge at Auburn. This is an improved team at Auburn. I’ve talked to the team a bunch about how good I think Auburn is. It’s a really talented group.”

The game between New Mexico State and Auburn wasn’t the first time Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze lost a game to Diego Pavia. In 2022, when Freeze was still the coach at Liberty, he had another game with New Mexico State and against Pavia. The Aggies scored 49 in that win, with Pavia throwing for 214 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 125 yards and three more touchdowns. With that, it’s not a surprise that Hugh Freeze joked he’s seen enough of Diego Pavia.

“I’m sick of seeing that quarterback,” Freeze laughed.