DAVIS, Calif. -- History will be on display at UC Davis Health Stadium this weekend as members of the 1971 football team will reunite and be honored as part of festivities surrounding the 50th anniversary of the famed "Miracle Game" as the No. 4/6 Aggies host No. 8/7 Eastern Washington in a Big Sky Conference showdown on Saturday (Nov. 13) at 5 p.m.

The team responsible for one of the most famous moments in the history of the program will be honored on the field at the first quarter break of the critical conference clash between the Aggies and Eagles. Tickets for the game are available online at UCDavisAggies.com or by contacting the UC Davis ticket office at (530) 752-AGS1.

Team members scheduled to be in attendance include: Bob Biggs, Mike Bellotti, Mike Everly, Dave Roberts, John Miller, Bill Cochran, Ron Van De Pol, Phil Swimley, Carey Laine, Don Stevenson, Bruce Groefsema, Bob Foster, Bob MacArthur, Ron Sockolov, Tay Thompson, Marty Armstrong, Lincoln Ellis, Larry Gudis, Skip Mezger, Ron Sockolov, Gary Woodrell, and Nick Yaranon, among others.

Although there are a number memorable or significant victories over the course of a century-plus of Aggie football, the "Miracle Game," as it has come to be known, certainly stands near the top of the list for most UC Davis fans.

On Nov. 6, 1971, the Aggies trailed defending conference champion Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay) by a 29-14 score as UC Davis took control on the visitor's 42 after a Steve Nathan 30-yard punt return with 44 seconds remaining in the game and no timeouts.

Tick... tick.... tick.

Running back George Mock scored on a two-yard plunge to cap a five-play drive that saw Biggs find Mike Everly for 16 yards and Belotti for 24 more to set up the score, before hitting Rick Fortner for the two-point conversion that made it 29-22 with 20 seconds remaining.

The Aggies' hopes of a comeback hinged on a successful onside kick, and John Miller made sure his team would have a chance, recovering the ensuing kickoff at the Pioneers' 44 yard line with 15 seconds remaining.

Tick... tick... tick.

Following an incompletion on a Hail Mary attempt, Biggs found Thompson for 15 yards and a first down with four seconds remaining, moving the Aggies down to the Hayward 29 yard line. On the final play of regulation, Biggs converted again, hitting Belotti in the end zone for a touchdown, bringing UC Davis to within a point, 29-28, with no time remaining on the clock.

Legendary head coach Jim Sochor elected to go for the win.

The Aggies were twice flagged for illegal proceedure calls on the conversion attempt but, since the game can't end on a penalty and since both infractions were before the snap of the ball, UC Davis was given a third opportunity to win it, and the Aggies did not waste it.

Flushed from the pocket, Biggs scrambled and hit Mike Everly, who made a diving one-handed catch in heavy traffic in the back of the end zone for the winning score.

UC Davis 30, Cal State Hayward 29.

"There's no point in writing this one up," Aggie linebacker Jim Flack told The Davis Enterprise after the game. "Nobody would believe it anyway."
 

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