Clark Lea recaps narrow escape against UConn: 'We'll take an ugly win'

Clark Lea and Vanderbilt picked up the second win of the season thanks to a last-second field goal from Joseph Bulovas to knock off UConn on Saturday night.

Vanderbilt won 40-28 as QB Ken Seals was 27-for-40 passing for 333 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. Rocko Griffin added 77 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Bulovas’ kick came at the end of a 7-play, 47-yard drive over the final 1:07 of the game after the Commodores (2-3) relinquished a 27-16 fourth-quarter lead. They were aided by personal foul on a kickoff return and a pass interference by the Huskies to get into position to win.

Here’s some of what Lea told the media after the game:

Lea: A win like this is important. We took a gut punch. For as much as there is improvement needed and as ugly as that was, we’ll take an ugly win and especially one where we showed character.

— Robbie Weinstein (@rwweinstein) October 3, 2021

Clark Lea: I want to give credit to coach Spanos and UConn. They’re fighting and they made it hard on us. Proud of our guys. It wasn’t pretty and there’s a lot to learn from, but it feels good to learn from a win.

— Robbie Weinstein (@rwweinstein) October 3, 2021

Lea: We needed Ken to step up and play with confidence. He had a look in his eye before the last drive that suggested he’d get it done.

— Robbie Weinstein (@rwweinstein) October 3, 2021

Lea quips that he headbutted Gabe Jeudy-Lally because he’s still a fullback at heart and seeks contact.

— Robbie Weinstein (@rwweinstein) October 3, 2021

“In my heart I’m still a fullback.”

Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea on an alleged celebratory head butting of one of his players

— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) October 3, 2021

Clark Lea: “Boy is it hard to win, but boy is it nice to learn from a win”

— Vandy Hustler Sports (@vuhustlersports) October 3, 2021

Lea: “The kicking game is critical. For us to be able to find someone who has experience—we’re grateful we have. Once we got him in position, we knew he was going to knock it down”

— Vandy Hustler Sports (@vuhustlersports) October 3, 2021

Lea: “I was proud of this team for not flinching. As ugly as that one was at times, I felt like the character of this football team shown through in the end”

— Vandy Hustler Sports (@vuhustlersports) October 3, 2021