Nov. 3, 2007
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Matt Engle threw for a career-high 302 yards and cornerback Adam Cook highlighted UC Davis' defensive effort with an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown as the Aggies beat Sacramento State 31-26 in an exciting nonconference football game at Hornet Stadium on Saturday, claiming their eighth straight win in the Causeway Classic series.
UC Davis, which had two key interceptions in the fourth quarter, improved to 4-6. Sacramento State, which lost to the Aggies at home for the fourth straight time, fell to 1-8. Quarterback Jason Smith threw for 266 yards and a touchdown and running back Bryan Hilliard rushed for 105 yards and two scores to lead Sacramento State. Smith was intercepted three times.
Aggie receiver Bakari Grant had eight catches for 116 yards, including a 34-yard TD reception in the second quarter while linebackers Chris Buck and Mike Morales each had 11 tackles.
UC Davis didn't seal the game until late in the fourth quarter when defensive back Kymm Snowden intercepted Smith at the Aggie 23-yard line and returned the ball 45 yards with just over 90 seconds to play. UC Davis had to punt in the final seconds but the Hornets were unable to muster anything in the final eight seconds when they took over at their own 20.
"It was just a great team effort," said Aggie coach Bob Biggs, who improved to 13-2 against Sacramento State. "I'm real, real proud of the football team. I thought they showed tremendous character after, obviously, a setback last week. They showed great character and resilience today.
"And I give Sac State a lot of credit," he added. "Those kids fought like crazy out there. It was a good football game; an entertaining football game."
UC Davis led the entire game, taking a 16-0 lead in the second quarter after neither team was able to get anything on the board in the first. The Hornets cut it to 16-10 before the teams traded touchdowns later in the third quarter to make it 31-24. A fourth-quarter safety by Sacramento State was the only scoring as the Aggies were able to were able to take over on downs, force a punt, and pick off two passes the rest of the way.
Good defense by both teams early in the second quarter set up the first score of the game, a safety with just 1:09 gone. The Aggies had driven to the Sacramento State 1 but were unable to score when running back Brandon Tucker tried to jump over into the end zone on fourth down. The Hornets took over just outside the goal line and defensive end James Amos joined Cook on bringing down Hilliard behind the line, resulting in a safety. Engle found Grant on the ensuing series for a 34-yard TD strike to make it 9-0.
The Hornets took the following kickoff and drove 44 yards to the Aggie 13 but Smith was picked off by Cook in the flat and Cook returned it 87 yards for the score. It was the third-longest interception return in school history and the seventh pick in Cook's career.
"I think that was the big play in the game, to be perfectly honest with you," said Biggs.
UC Davis led 16-3 at halftime, leading to a third quarter where the teams combined for 36 points, 21 of them by Sacramento State. Smith hit Tyler Fannuchi from 20 yards, Brandon Rice hauled in a 10-yarder from Engle, and Hilliard had a pair of 28-yard TD runs sandwiched around a 3-yard score from the Aggies' Joe Trombetta as UC Davis took a 31-24 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Hornets picked up the final score of the game on the first play of the fourth quarter after a fourth-down snap went over Aggie punter Emmanuel Benjamin's head which he then kicked out of the back of the end zone from about the 14 for a safety.
The UC Davis defense then made big plays down the stretch. The Aggies turned away the Hornets on fourth down at the UC Davis 30 on the next drive, forced a punt on the following possession, and then got an interception from linebacker Dozie Amajoyi at midfield with just under five minutes to play. Snowden's pick ended Sacramento State's final threat.
It was a tough effort by the Aggie defense which was on the field for 88 plays, the most by an opponent this season.
Engle completed 20 of 31 passes for his 302 yards and did not throw an interception for the second straight game. UC Davis, which was outgained 452-304 in the game, had just two yards rushing, minus-40 which came on the safety in the fourth quarter.
Hilliard carried the ball 16 times for his 105 yards while Smith completed 23 of 52 passes for 266 yards. Tony Washingotn had seven catches for 42 yards while Tyler Fannuchi had six grabs for 82. Linebacker Cyrus Mulitalo led the Hornet defense with nine tackles.
Amos and Patrick Michelier each had sacks for UC Davis. Brady McClendon added eight tackles.
UC Davis has not lost to Sacramento State since 1999 and now owns a 39-16 all-time advantage. The victory also gave the Aggies 10 points in the all-sports Causeway Cup between the local rivals. UC Davis currently leads 30-10.
The Aggies will have their only bye of the season next week before returning to action on Nov. 17 for their season finale against the University of San Diego at Aggie Stadium. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
