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FB Jackson Sievers Pursuit at Southern Utah October 2026 Updated
Mick Dunning/UC Davis Athletics/The Wary One
17
UC Davis UCD 4-3 , 2-2
38
Winner Southern Utah SUU 3-4 , 2-2
UC Davis UCD
4-3 , 2-2
17
Final
38
Southern Utah SUU
3-4 , 2-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UCD UC Davis 0 17 0 0 17
SUU Southern Utah 6 3 15 14 38

Game Recap: Football |

Second Half Surge Lifts Thunderbirds Over Aggies

CEDAR CITY, Utah – No. 14/12 UC Davis (4-3, 2-2 Big Sky) returned to action on Saturday night, but the Aggies were unable to fend off a second half surge from Southern Utah (3-4, 2-2 Big Sky) as the Thunderbirds secured a 38-17 victory at Eccles Coliseum.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • Defense was steady early as both teams held each other to three-and-outs to begin the game. UC Davis got the ball back at 10:44 following a second stop, before Jordan Fisher broke off a 10-yard run at 10:09 to push him over 2,000 career rushing yards.
  • Moving into the middle of the opening quarter, Will Burns started the scoring as he snuck through the Aggie defense on a quarterback keeper to put Southern Utah (SUU) up 6-0 at 5:30. Parker Kucifer missed the subsequent PAT, hitting the right upright.
  • The Thunderbird defense would hold for the remainder of the opening period, but UC Davis found its rhythm and advanced to the Southern Utah 11-yard line before the quarter ended.
  • On the third play of the second quarter, Fisher plunged into the end zone from three yards out for the first Aggie touchdown of the evening. Following a made PAT from Robert Meyer, UC Davis jumped back in front, 7-6, at 13:38.
  • The period continued with both teams trading possessions, but Treynor Cleeland took things into his own hands, scrambling from 19 yards out for the second Aggie touchdown of the evening. Meyer's second made PAT made it 14-6 in favor of UC Davis at 7:19.
  • Southern Utah punched back by driving the ball down to the UC Davis five-yard line, but a false start penalty pushed the Thunderbirds five yards back and forced a field goal attempt. Kucifer then converted from 25 yards, narrowing the score to 14-9.
  • With less than one minute remaining in the half, Kucifer lined up for another field goal, this time from 41 yards out, but the attempt was blocked by the Aggie line to keep it a five-point game.
  • Fisher answered the call once more, ripping off a 37-yard run to advance UC Davis to the Southern Utah 39-yard line. This rush would prove to be crucial for the Aggies, as Meyer ended the half by adding on three more points from 29 yards out. UC Davis remained on top, 17-9, heading into the locker room.
  • Coming out of the break, UC Davis stalled on its first offensive drive, with Southern Utah grabbing the ball back at 12:49. The Thunderbirds then used 13 plays to drive 73 yards and climb within two points on a one-yard touchdown pass from William Burns to Joshua Acord at 4:47. Burns then converted the two-point conversion on a quarterback keeper to even the score at 17-17.
  • Just over three minutes later, Southern Utah found success again, this time scoring on a six-yard strike from Burns to Joshua Acord. Kucifer nailed the PAT and put the Thunderbirds up 24-17 at the 1:33 mark. This score would hold through the end of the third quarter.
  • UC Davis responded by driving to the SUU 27-yard line on the next series, but Meyer would not be able to knock through the 44-yard field goal as he hit the right upright.
  • Five plays later, Floyd Chalk found a crease as the running back delivered a 37-yard rushing touchdown at 10:12 to make it a two-score game in favor of Southern Utah, 31-17.
  • The Aggies would stop the Thunderbirds on their next few offensive possessions but could not find the momentum they needed on offense to trim the deficit. Burns continued his strong night in the minutes to follow, reeling off a 41-yard touchdown run to double up UC Davis, 38-17, with 3:15 remaining in regulation.
  • Getting the ball back with 3:01 on the game clock, the Aggies never stopped fighting as they drove down to the SUU 22-yard line. Unable to conjure up any final magic, time expired before UC Davis could score any more points as Southern Utah finished off the 38-17 victory.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
  • With his rush at 10:09 in the first quarter, Fisher surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards, becoming the 11th Aggie in program history to achieve the feat.
  • Fisher finished with 180 rushing yards on 20 carries (9.0 average) and one touchdown, marking his second game this season (second consecutive) and eighth career game with 100-plus rushing yards. The touchdown was his eighth rushing touchdown this season, 17th career rushing touchdown, and 21st career overall touchdown. He also set new career-highs in receiving yards (71) and all-purpose yards (251) while tying his season-high with four receptions.
  • Gbatu Jr. officially passed the 3,000 career receiving yards with his 25-yard reception at 2:00 in the fourth quarter. He is only the fourth Aggie in program history to achieve the feat, as he is now 234 yards away from passing Charley Enos (3,258) for third all-time.
  • Cleeland's touchdown run in the second quarter marked his first rushing touchdown at the collegiate level. The 19-yard rush is also his longest career run. He also finished with a new career-high in carries (13).
  • Winston Williams was key in helping UC Davis score its second touchdown of the night, securing a season-long 28-yard reception a few plays before Cleeland crossed the goal line.
  • Macray Madruga's forced fumble at 6:05 in the second quarter was his first of the season and the second of his career. It also marked the sixth forced fumble by the Aggies this year.
  • Hayden John was a leader on defense throughout the night, finishing with a season-high ten tackles, including a new career-high eight solo tackles.
  • UC Davis' 17 points in the second period are the third-most the Aggies have scored in a single period this season, behind the 28 scored in the second quarter at San Diego, and the 25 scored in the third quarter against Eastern Washington.
STATS SPOTLIGHT: POSTGAME WITH THE AGGIES:
  • To view the full postgame interview with head coach Tim Plough, please click here.
UP NEXT:
UC Davis will return home next weekend as the Aggies are set to host Northern Colorado on Saturday, Oct. 24. Kickoff from UC Davis Health Stadium is scheduled for 4:00 pm. Live streaming, radio, live statistics, and ticket links are available via the team's schedule page.

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on UC Davis football, follow the Aggies on X @UCDFootball, on Instagram @ucdavisfootball, and on Facebook @ucdavisfootball.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:
UC Davis Athletics represents one of the nation's premier public universities on the NCAA Division I stage, with more than 650 student-athletes competing across 25 sports, including 16 programs in the Mountain West Conference. Located in California's quintessential college town, UC Davis combines championship-level athletics with the academic excellence of the nation's #8 public research university and is home to the nation's No. 1 programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and sustainability. With a growing national media presence, bold investments in facilities and the student-athlete experience, and a tradition of developing champions in competition, in the classroom, and beyond, the Aggies are elevating UC Davis on a national stage.
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