DAVIS, Calif. – Despite the wet and windy conditions, the Aggie football team was not deterred as they got a four-touchdown performance from
Lan Larison and behind an opportunistic defense led to a 31-21 Causeway Classic victory over No. 8 Sacramento State in front of 11,622 fans Saturday at UC Davis Health Stadium.
UC Davis improves to 7-4 overall and 5-3 in Big Sky play as Sacramento State drops to 7-4 and 4-4 in conference action. The Aggies now boast a 47-23 all-time advantage against their Causeway rival.
Larison amassed 121 yards on the ground and three scores and caught three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. His four total touchdowns were one off the school record held by Matt Brown in 2000 at Cal Poly.
The Idaho native has scored 10 touchdowns in the last three games, including the last nine.
Miles Hastings passed for 175 yards and a score on 16-of-23 passing, while Larison's 54 yards paced the Ags.
Trent Tompkins chipped in 48 receiving yards and 47 punt return yards.
The Aggie defense forced four turnovers as
Evan Tattersall led the effort with 11 tackles, one sack and broke up two passes.
Teddye Buchanan registered seven tackles and had two interceptions.
Larison opened the scoring in the contest when he took a direct snap and raced through the Hornet defense for a 3-yard score.
On that drive, Larison eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards on the season on a 4-yard rush.
Larison extended the lead to 14-0 after he scored on his second direct snap, this time from seven yards out at the end of the opening quarter.
After
Hunter Ridley gave the Aggies a 17-0 lead, the UCD defense held strong late in the second quarter when the Hornets elected to go for it on fourth down and four yards away from their first points in the game.
The Aggie defense then stepped up big again with a minute left in the half as Buchanan picked off the Carson Conklin pass.
Buchanan started the second half just as he ended the first with another interception, this time picking off Kaiden Bennett.
Larison came through again for the Aggies, this time through the air as he took a Hastings pass 47 yards for the touchdown to give the Ags a 24-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Big Sky leading rusher then sealed the game when he scampered in for his fourth score on a 12-yard run with 3:30 left in the contest.
The FCS selection show will be held on Sunday, Nov. 19, and air on ESPNU at 9:30 a.m.
