Aug. 25, 2007
DAVIS, Calif. - Defense got the better of the offense during Saturday's annual Blue-Gold Scrimmage at Aggie Stadium as the UC Davis football team finished its third week of practice in preparation for next weekend's season-opener against visiting Western Washington.
The Gold team, comprised of the Aggie offense, scored on a pair of field goals by senior Emmanuel Benjamin who connected for 36 and 42 yards for six points while the Blue squad, made up the defense, held the offense to no touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Marshall Congdon had 10 total tackles while redshirt freshman Dozie Amajoyi picked up nine. Three different players blocked kicks.
The offense was led by redshirt freshman running back Joe Trombetta who gained 91 yards on 11 carries, including a long of 28 yards. Quarterback Tim Plough completed 12 of 16 passes for 97 yards, including a long gain of 21 yards, while redshirt freshman Greg Denham completed 10 of 14 for 58. Senior Matt Engle connected on 6 of 8 passes for 52 yards.
Bob Biggs, entering his 15th season, credited the defense but was also pleased with aspects of the offense.
"From a defensive perspective, when (the offense) got in the red zone we couldn't produce. I thought the defense did a good job of getting pressure on us taking away some of the things we tried to do in the play-action game and whatnot," said Biggs. "We moved the ball in between the 20-yard lines really well but then, offensively, we didn't move the ball particularly well in the red zone," he added.
Benjamin's field goals helped lead the special teams. However, Biggs was disappointed that two field goals and a punt were blocked.
Senior Chris Miller caught six passes for 54 yards while Sean Creadick and running back Josh Reese each caught four. Defensively, linebacker Michael Healey had 1.5 tackles-for-losses and forced a fumble while Jeremy Scott, John Faletoese and Travis Dulli each blocked kicks.
The Aggies will now turn their attention to Western Washington with UC Davis embarking on its first game-week of the season.
"The focus changes," he said. "The focus isn't so much on what we're doing against each other. You really start to hone in on what you're going to see next week and what your opponent looks like. Up to now it's been installation and then trying to prepare for UC Davis, on both sides of the ball. Now it's nice because you've got an opponent, it's new, it's different, the preparation is different in terms of what you're going to be doing and it's more specific."
Next Saturday's game marks the first-ever football game in new Aggie Stadium while also marking the program's first as an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision member.
