Aug. 26, 2005
DAVIS, Calif. - Receiver Chris Miller caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Tim Plough to help highlight the UC Davis offense, linebacker Dan Elbanna had a game-high five solo tackles for the defense, and Matt Locklin kicked a 35-yard field, highlighting action on Friday night at the annual Blue-Gold scrimmage at Toomey Field.
The scrimmage served as the Aggies' final tuneup before they begin preparations for their season-opener on Sept. 3 against No.7 New Hampshire at Toomey Field. The intrasquad contest featured the Aggies' offense vs. the defense with drives started at various spots on the field. The offense finished with 10 points.
The defense stifled the offense for much of the night, allowing just 43 yards rushing, recording eight tackles for losses and breaking up five passes. The only scores allowed came on the final play of the first half when Locklin converted a 35-yard field goal, and at the end of regulation when Plough found Miller across the middle for a score.
Plough completed 19 of 27 passes for 168 yards while junior quarterback Jon Grant was 11 for 22 for 105. Backup Matt Engle also eclipsed 100 yards passing, finishing with 101 on eight completions. Miller had a team-high 96 receiving yards on seven grabs, while Tony Kays and Kale Turner also had seven receptions each. The offense finished with 432 yards on 101 plays.
Plough led all rushers with 38 net yards, including 26 on one scamper. No other Aggie, though, had more than seven yards but none carried the ball more than six times.
Elbanna, a middle linebacker, finished with six total tackles, including five solo. Elbanna also scooped up a fumble in the first half, returning it 39 yards deep into the offense's territory. Linebacker Steven Freeman had seven tackles, end James Amos had five and freshman tackle Pat Michelier had 2.5 tackles for losses including a pair of sacks.
"We came into the preseason thinking that we were going to have pretty good team speed on defense and it showed tonight," said 13th-year head coach Bob Biggs. "They out-played the offense. Speed was a factor and we couldn't get enough balance with the run game going... Full-credit goes to the defense. I just thought they played really well and we're going to need them to continue to play well."
UC Davis, which finished 6-4 last season, will turn attention to New Hampshire, which was 10-3 in 2004 and advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals. Kickoff at Toomey Field next Saturday is 6 p.m.
