Sports coverage for LaVozColorado has been predominantly about the major professional teams in Colorado. But something remarkable happened this weekend that couldn’t have happened at a better time.
About a six and a half hour drive from Denver south on I-25 will get you to Albuquerque New Mexico, which is where this story begins. Diego Pavia begins his early football career at Volcano Vista High School where he committed to play for New Mexico Military Institute. In 2022 Pavia transferred to New Mexico State and experienced some struggles in his first starts under center.
It wasn’t until his game against the Liberty Flames (Virginia) where NMSU was 24-point underdogs, and Pavia really shined. Pavia led NMSU with 214 yards, three touchdowns and 125 yards rushing. Pavia later led NMSU to a Bowl Game win over Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl and became the bowl MVP.
On December 23, 2023, Pavia announced he would be entering the transfer portal and on January 18, 2024, Pavia and Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Kill, announced his transfer to Vandy.
Over the weekend number 7 Alabama was in Tennessee to face Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt Commodores (Diego Pavia Y los Vandy Commodores) in what had to have been the greatest feeling for the young New Mexico quarterback.
Vanderbilt came out fast, scoring on their first drive. On Alabama’s ensuing drive, Vanderbilt came up with a pick-six after the ball was deflected, giving Vandy a 13-0 (missed extra-point) lead halfway through the first quarter. Alabama answered before the end of the first quarter with a touchdown of their own cutting the lead to 6.
Vanderbilt led through the entire game with Alabama scoring late in the fourth to cut the lead to five (35-40). Alabama had an opportunity to stop Vanderbilt with just over two minutes to play but it was a first down pick-up by Pavia with 1:10 to play that sealed Alabama’s fate and secured the win for Vanderbilt.
The story of this young man embodies the will and determination that young Latinos have when trying to accomplish their goals.
In other sports the Denver Broncos won their third straight game while also ending their losing streak to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Sunday’s game started off like many Bronco games of recent, with lots of head scratching and grumbling.
Denver was already down 10-3 when Las Vegas was threatening to score again and Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew rolled out to his left and threw an errant pass to his tight-end which sailed over his head and into the arms of Patrick Surtain II for a 100-yard pick-six.
Denver’s defense dominated while their offense took most of the first half to wake up. Denver beat Las Vegas 34-18.
Next weekend the Broncos will face their divisional opponents, the Las Angeles Chargers on Sunday in Denver at 2:05 p.m. L.A. is coming off a bye week after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs on September 29th (17-10).
