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Witness History Firsthand, Click to Purchase Tickets for Football's Inaugural FCS Home Playoff Game (Dec. 1)

As the clock ticks down to kickoff of the first-ever UC Davis postseason Division I football game, Aggies fans can thank — at least in part — the inspired play of their linebackers for the team's lofty 9-2 record.

As it enters Saturday's 4 p.m. home playoff tilt against Northern Iowa, UC Davis has posted the Football Championship Subdivision's 14th-best turnover margin (plus eight) while intercepting 14 passes and recovering seven fumbles.

Those 21 turnovers are the most since the locals forced 22 in 2012. It's the best margin since the team moved to Aggie Stadium in 2007 ... as well as UC Davis' top mark in the D-I era.

Defensive coordinator Robert Tucker says his multiple-scheme defense has become a tough group for opponents to solve, and the versatility of the Aggie linebackers is a major ingredient in the mystery to foes.

"First and foremost, you have three seniors in that group — Ryan Parenteau, Mason Moe and Anthony Baumgart — who are really solid," points out Tucker, in his second year with the Aggies. "They know how to work, how to prepare, they're extremely intelligent and they do a heckuva job being leaders for our defense.

"When you mix in some younger guys — you have Nas Anesi as a team captain and Montell Bland, Cam Trimble and Connor Airey — it's just a really good (combination).

"They really help each other, cheer for each other."

Add in veterans Eric Flowers and Quincy Bennett, and it's easy to see why Tucker says "at inside LB we have six starters" and, overall, a whole bunch of versatility.

It's interesting to note that the three seniors Tucker mentioned are all transplants from other positions: Parenteau originally played safety for UC Davis, Baumgart started at defensive end (where he still sees some action) and Moe came to town as a defensive back.

Tucker says his linebackers' knowledge of other important positions allows UC Davis to provide deceptive alignments, freelance when applicable and produce those big defensive stops and turnovers that have led the Aggies to a share of the Big Sky Conference championship.

We talked with the veteran Moe and emerging redshirt freshman Bland about their brethren, the turnaround and the future.

Moe, the Hawaii native who leads UC Davis with 66 tackles, is a perfect example of that diversity of talent.

Moe was converted from DB to strong-side linebacker last season. It was a move necessitated by injuries. The payoff has been a jackpot. Moe's three interceptions and 8 1/2 sacks are top Aggie marks, as are his 16 tackles for losses.

Moe loves his new responsibilities, but says it doesn't matter to him where he plays, "as long as I'm on the field." He admits his experience as a defensive back has helped on those three picks ...

"Yeah," Moe confirms, with a laugh. "You have to have that defensive-back mentality when you're an outside linebacker because you have to do it all."

So why is it that this Aggie linebacker crew has been one of the best on the West Coast?

"It all stems from coaches putting us in positions, allowing us to play free, play in space … putting us in positions to make big plays," Moe explains. "And everybody sees the results paying off."

UC Davis has been primarily a 3-4 defense.

"There are pros and cons of playing a 3-4," Moe says. "We're kind of undersized, but there's a lot of speed on the field so it makes up for us being (smaller). Putting your best athletes out there is what it comes down to."

Tucker has seen to that. For example, enter Bland ...

At Central Catholic High (Modesto), Bland played both sides of the ball and helped the Raiders to a 52-7 record and three California D-IV championships. He was an accomplished sprinter as well as prep running back and linebacker.

"(Our linebackers) are a bunch of fast, smart, special guys — no, special men — that come to practice every day ready to work, ready to get better," Bland says. "We find the little things that we can do better."

Bland is second only to Moe in tackles among Aggies. He has 38 solo stops and has helped on another 25. He's made 6 1/2 tackles for losses, has a couple of sacks and has forced a fumble.

The 5-11, 205-pound Bland says teammates like Moe, Anesi and other veterans have been key influences in his being able to contribute in only his first season in uniform:

"It's their attention to detail, but also their free flow to the game: They do everything so easily and quickly and they're able to have fun with it."

Bland says instead of piling pressure on younger guys, the veterans make newcomers "understand we're playing a game we love."

"We're playing football," he says. "That's all we talk about."

Bland remembers how important his redshirt year was, adding: "It's something I recommend for all incoming freshmen."

"Our coaches do a great job of … getting us acclimated," Bland continued. "Then the older guys make us a feel right at home, get us (involved). It was an easy transition because our coaches treat us like we're already starters. Everybody."

According to the son of former Sacramento State player Louis Bland and mom Lisa Smith, his time as a redshirt was "an important year, and the coaches and academic advisers took it very seriously."

A lot of attention was paid to Bland's development, even if he wasn't standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his brethren on game days.

"It was something a lot of places don't appreciate, but here our class embraced it and I think (redshirting) has helped change the culture here," Bland says.

"Study halls, they made sure we had tutors where needed, extra time (to get the feel for next-level football and education). Definitely an advantage."

Now Moe and Bland enter the biggest stage of their football careers. What about Northern Iowa?

"We have a big task," reports Moe, who came to the mainland for a couple of seasons at West Hills College (Coalinga) before gravitating to UC Davis. "It's not a secret what they're going to try to do ... they're going to try to run the ball. We have to be stout up front. Force them into third down and long. Win first down and second down." 

Bland concurs, but says the defense is locked and loaded: "This is what we've worked for, make a little bit of history for Davis. We have a lot more to do …"

Plus, Bland has a little extra task at hand ...

A huge contingent of family and friends are quick to make the trek to wherever it is their hometown hero goes.

This week?

"Oh man, with family and friends?" the linebacker ponders. "Last week (the Causeway Classic) I could have used about 50 (tickets). I'm sure this week will be even more than that."

— Former Davis Enterprise sports editor Bruce Gallaudet writes "Inside Aggie Nation" each week. You can also read his "Aggie Corner" column every Friday or Sunday in The Enterprise (davisenterprise.com). Reach Gallaudet at 530-320-4456 or bgallaudet41@gmail.com