Date: Saturday, October 29
Kickoff: 4 PM PT
Venue: UC Davis Health Stadium
Theme: Battle for the Golden Horseshoe | Ag Day
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KTKZ 1380 am | Varsity Network

DAVIS, Calif. - The UC Davis football team (3-4, 2-2) will open a two-game homestand against Cal Poly (1-6, 0-4) on Saturday, Oct. 29. The Battle for the Golden Horseshoe will kick off at 4 p.m. from UC Davis Health Stadium. Scott Marsh and Scott Gordon will call the action on ESPN+ while Greg Wong and Doug Kelly hit the airwaves on KTKZ 1380 am. The Aggies have won two in a row and have put on an offensive clinic since coming out of the bye week, amassing 114 points in the last two contests. UC Davis holds a 25-20-2 record against Cal Poly and has won five straight against the Mustangs, including the previous three games played in Davis.

SERIES HISTORY
UC Davis holds a 25-20-2 record in the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe and are winners of the last five meetings. Aggie head coach Dan Hawkins has never lost to the Mustangs and has outscored their rival to the south, 228-99 over that span. Last season, Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr. rushed for 109 yards and a score, while Miles Hastings threw for two touchdowns. The last contest in Davis, in the 1,000^th football game in program history, the Aggies set numerous records in a 73-24 offensive clinic. The Ags shattered the record book with 73 points and 768 total yards.

The Battle for the Golden Horseshoe started in 2004 as the student-run spirit clubs from both campuses came together to sponsor the trophy that resides with the team that wins each year. The horseshoe-shaped trophy signifies the agricultural influence at both universities. Since the trophy was created in 2004, UC Davis leads the series 11-7. 

RECORD BREAKER
Senior running back Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr., broke G.P. Muhammad's 24-year-old career rushing record (3,589) when he bounced free on a 12-yard run on the second play of the first offensive drive for the Aggies against San Diego. Gilliam, Jr. finished the game with 106 yards on the ground to move his record total to 3,689. Gilliam, Jr. also broke the all-purpose yards (4,630) record at Cal, surpassing Muhammad's career mark of (4,629) by one yard in week one. The Merced native also etched his name atop the career touchdown record, finding the endzone for a school-record 41st time when he scored on a 38-yard run in the first quarter at No. 4 Montana State. Another record on the horizon for Gilliam, Jr. is the all-time points record at Davis. The running back, who has scored more points than any non-kicker in program history, enters the Cal Poly game 15 points away from breaking Brady Stuart's (2012-15) school record of 274 points. He also found the endzone twice against NAU to move his career rushing touchdown total to 36, four away from tying Preston Jackson's (1991-93) record of 40 touchdowns on the ground. The running back enters the Cal Poly game with 199 career receptions. He would become just the fourth Aggie to surpass 200 career receptions. 

MR. 4,000
Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr., became just the 12th player in Big Sky history to rush for over 4,000 career yards. The Merced native raced past the milestone when he broke free for a 77-yard run against NAU. Gilliam, Jr. finished the game with 150 yards on the ground to move his career total to 4,077. The last Big Sky rusher to eclipse the 4,000-yard mark was Joe Protheroe of Cal Poly (2014-18). Only four players in conference history have run for over 5,000 yards. Gilliam, Jr. enters the Cal Poly game with 4,135 career rushing yards which ranks 10^th all-time in the Big Sky record book.

THE CHASE TO 1,000
Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr. is no stranger to amassing 1,000 all-purpose yards in a single season. Neither is running-mate Lan Larison. Gilliam, Jr. enters the Cal Poly game with 5,455 all-purpose yards and 983 this season. When he eclipses 1,000 yards, it will mark his fourth season in an Aggie uniform to do so. Larison, who paced UC Davis in 2021 with 1,184 all-purpose yards, enters Week 8 with 774 yards this season. 

THE KING OF SOLO TACKLES
Defensive back Devon King added two solo tackles against Northern Arizona to move past Jason Hairston's school record of 136 solo stops. King has registered five or more total tackles in five games this season and posted five or more solo tackles in four contests. Against San Diego in Week 3, King totaled 10 tackles that included seven unassisted stops. King enters the UNC game with 138 solo tackles.

AGGIES IN THE BIG SKY
UC Davis has continued its trend as one of the most disciplined teams in the Big Sky. After seven games, the Aggies are the least penalized team in the conference with 27 and are third in the country at 3.86 penalties per game. On top of the penalties, UCD has been great at keeping Miles Hastings upright, coming into the Cal Poly game second in the league in the least sacks allowed with just eight. The Ags have had a knack to causing turnovers and are second in the league with 9, sporting a 1.29 turnover margin per game that also ranks third in FCS. The Aggie passing attack remains one of the top units in the conference as UCD ranks second with only four interceptions thrown, second in completions with 187, completion percentage (68.3) and also second in passing offense with 283.86 yards per contest. The Ags rank third in total offense with 464.14 yards per game after their explosive output of 688 yards against NAU. The Aggies are second in yards per play at 6.54 and third in total offensive yards with 3,249 on the season. Defensively the Ags are second in the league in red zone defense (75.0) and are fifth with 13 forced turnovers.

INDIVIDUALLY IN THE BIG SKY
Several Aggies find their names near the top of the conference in numerous categories. Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr. ranks second in the Big Sky with 100 rushing yards per game and is third with 140.3 all-purpose yards per contest. Teammate Lan Larison checks in at fifth in the league with 110.5 all-purpose yards per game. Miles Hastings leads the conference with 264.86 passing yards per game and is second with 1,854 passing yards. The signal-caller is also atop the league, averaging 261 yards of total offense per game. Defensively, Rex Connors is second with four interceptions and 9.17 tackles per contest. Isaiah Gomez, who is 6-for-6 on field goals and 16-for-16 on extra points in the last three games, ranks third in the Big Sky with nine made field goals.

REX CONNORS RECOGNITION
Redshirt freshman Rex Connors was named Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Week and the FedEx Ground FCS Freshman Player of the Week after his stellar performance in Week 2. Connors put together one of the finest defensive performances in recent memory for the Aggies. Against No. 2 ranked South Dakota State on the road, Connors registered 17 total tackles, including 10 solo stops in the defensive slugfest. On top of his 17 tackles, the Pleasant Grove, Utah native added two interceptions as the initial takeaway was the first of his Aggie career. The 17 total tackles are the most in a game in program history since at least 2007. In Week 7, Connors was recognized once again by the conference, garnering Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time after his 10-tackle, one interception performance against UNC. Leading up to that game, Connors was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List. The safety now has four interceptions on the season, which is the most by an Aggie defender since 2006 and currently leads the team with 55 total tackles.

114 IN LAST TWO GAMES
The Aggie offense came out of its bye week on a mission, compiling 114 points in the two games since. The 114 points are the most in back-to-back games in the UC Davis Division I era and the most since 2000.

60-YARD STRIKES
In seven games this season, the Aggies have showcased some explosive plays with five touchdowns over 60 yards. In the opener at Cal, senior running back Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr. ripped off a 60-yard rushing score. The scamper was his longest since a 75-yard touchdown in 2019 against Portland State and the longest by an Aggies since an 86-yard score from Trent Tompkins in 2020. Sophomore running back Lan Larison hauled in a 68-yard touchdown pass from Miles Hastings in Week 2 at South Dakota State. At UNC, Larison ran for a 75-yard score. Against San Diego in Week 3, Josh Gale recorded his first career touchdown, racing past the Torero defense for a 62-yard receiving score. Gale bettered that with an 80-yard reception at Northern Colorado. Gilliam, Jr. posted a career-long run of 77 yards against NAU.

COMPLETE BACKS
All eyes have been on arguably the most prodigious rusher in UC Davis history and the rushing record. Diving in deeper on the all-time leader in rushing and all-purpose yards, Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr. has been an underrated receiver his whole career and is continuing the 2022 season in impressive fashion. The Merced native enters Week 8, leading the Aggies with 35 receptions and 275 receiving yards. Also out of the Aggie backfield, Lan Larison enters the Cal Poly game fifth on the team with 234 receiving yards, including a 68-yard score. Larison is averaging 110.6 all purpose yards per game.

SPREAD THE WEALTH
In seven games in 2022, the Aggies have started six different wide receivers. In the first game of the season at Cal, Justin Kraft returned from an injury-plagued career to earn the start, while Chaz Davis caught his first career touchdown. In Week 2 at South Dakota State, Justin Poerio hauled in his second career touchdown reception on a nine-yard fourth quarter strike from Miles Hastings. In the big win against USD, three different receivers caught touchdowns, including career firsts from Matteo Perez and Josh Gale. C.J. Hutton caught 10 passes for 77 yards and a score against Weber State. Kraft posted a career-best effort at No. 4 Montana State with six receptions for 114 yards. Lance Babb II hauled in his first career score on a pass from Grant Harper at UNC. Already, 16 different receivers have been credited with a catch, while seven different pass catchers have recorded 10 or more receptions and 10 different Aggies have caught touchdowns.

THE "MAGICAL" TRENT TOMPKINS
In his time in an Aggie uniform, Trent Tompkins has done a lot of everything for the Aggies. Listed as a wide receiver in 2022, the sophomore was all over the stat sheet in 2021. The All-Big Sky second team selection at the all-purpose spot tied for the team-lead with six rushing touchdowns and ranked second on the squad with 448 yards on the ground. The Fresno native caught 12 passes for 77 yards and threw 18 passes for 102 yards and one score. Tompkins also returned two punts for 86 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown. In 2022, Tompkins has returned five punts for 23 yards, three kickoffs for 80 yards, rushed for 41 yards on 14 carries and caught 16 passes for 85 yards. In Week 3 against USD, Tompkins tallied 114 total yards and scored twice on two direct snaps.

HASTINGS SINCE CAL
Miles Hastings hasn't taken long to get comfortable as the Aggie's starting signal-caller. Since the Cal game, the sophomore has thrown for 12 touchdowns and 1,598 yards with only two interceptions. Against USD, Hastings completed the first 10 passes of the game and finished 16-for-21. The San Marcos native posted his first 300-yard passing game of the season when he completed 21-of-26 passes for 328 yards and two scores against NAU. He also hauled in a receiving touchdown against the Lumberjacks. He kept the hot hand at UNC, completing 18-of-21 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. In his last two games, the sophomore signal-caller has completed 83-percent (39-of-47) of his passes for 579 yards and five touchdowns. 

COACHING MATCHUP
Beau Baldwin is in his third season at Cal Poly, sporting a 3-18 overall record in San Luis Obispo. The former Eastern Washington head coach and Cal offensive coordinator led EWU to the 2010 FCS national title. UC Davis head coach Dan Hawkins has led the Aggies to their first two FCS Playoff appearances in school history and boasts a 34-26 mark in now his sixth season in Davis. This will be the third meeting between the two, as Hawkins holds a 2-0 record against Baldwin during his time with the Mustangs.

SCHEDULE GAZING
On top of opening the season on the road against FBS foe Cal, UC Davis entered the 2022 campaign slated to play four FCS squads that were ranked in the top-25, including three in the Big Sky. Of the four teams, three were tabbed in the top-10 in the preseason polls. At the week of each contest, UCD faced No. 3 South Dakota State, No. 4 Montana State, No. 12 Weber State and will face No. 3 Sacramento State. The three top-10 contests will all be on the road.

TEAM CAPTAINS
Senior running back Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr. and sophomore linebacker Teddye Buchanan were voted team captains for the upcoming season. The selection of Gilliam, Jr. marks the third-straight season the Merced, Calif., native has been named a captain, which is a program record. The appointment eclipses the likes of two-time captains Ken O'Brien, Bo Eason, Mike Moroski, and J.T. O'Sullivan, to name a few. Buchanan, only a sophomore, is entering his first season with the distinguished title. Before the Cal Poly week, quarterback Miles Hastings was named a permanent captain for the remainder of the season. On top now the three permanent captains for the 2022 season, additional captains will be named on a game-by-game basis. A complete list is below:

CAL: McCallan Castles & Cam Trimble
SDS: Miles Hastings & Chris Venable
USD: Connor Pettek & Jayce Smalley
Weber: Isaiah Gomez & Nick Eaton
MSU: Devon King & Nick Amoah
NAU: Zach Kennedy & Jordan Ford
UNC: Justin Kraft & Cole Hansen
CP: Miles Hastings & Rex Connors

SMALLEY SEMIFINALIST FOR CAMPBELL AWARD
UC Davis graduate linebacker Jayce Smalley is taking full advantage of his extra eligibility seasons. The UCLA graduate transfer, who earned his degree in just three years in Westwood, already etched his name on an MBA degree in Davis and is starting another graduate program in professional accountancy. Smalley boasted a 3.82 in his MBA program. Smalley has started all seven games of the 2022 season and has recorded 25 tackles, including a sack, a fumble recovery, and broken up two passes. 

NEXT TIME OUT
UC Davis will conclude its regular season home slate against Idaho State on Saturday, Nov. 5. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. from UC Davis Health Stadium.