Football Falls to UC Davis 55-14
10/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
- Box Score
DAVIS, CA - Senior running back Matt Brown rushed for a career-high 188 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, September 30, and No.4 UC Davis rushed for 322 yards overall, as the Aggies rolled to a 55-14 win over Saint Mary's in a college football game played before 9,771 at Toomey Field.
UC Davis, which has scored at least 50 points in three of its first four games, scored 41 points in the second half and improved to 4-0. Saint Mary's, which got 151 yards rushing and a touchdown from running back Jeff Brown, dropped to 2-3.
Nicholas Yang had a pair of touchdown receptions for the Aggies, defensive back Kwamin Taylor returned a blocked punt for another, and Glenn Adriatico returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, helping to highlight the night for UC Davis.
The Aggies, which finished with 553 yards in total offense, eclipsed the 500-yard barrier for the third time this season. UC Davis, which led just 14-0 at halftime, also rushed for at least 300 yards in a game since gaining 312 against Saint Mary's in 1996.
Brown, who twice in his career has rushed for 138 yards in a game, carried the ball 24 times against Saint Mary's. He scored on a 7-yard run late in the first quarter and then added a 1-yard touchdown run early in the third. Brown also had runs of 45 and 31 yards in the third quarter.
The UC Davis defense also played well against a Saint Mary's option-offense which came into the game sixth in NCAA Div. I-AA at 286.3 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Gus Papanikolas, who entered the matchup averaging 111 yards rushing, was held to minus-14 yards on eight carries.
Yang's 13-yard touchdown pass from O'Sullivan with 11:32 left in the second quarter gave the Aggies a 14-0 lead. After Brown's 1-yard TD run brought the Gaels to within 21-7 midway through the third quarter, UC Davis responded with a 9-play, 66-yard scoring drive that was culminated on a 9-yard scoring pass from O'Sullivan to flanker Onome Ojo.
On the final play of the third quarter, Aggie safety Nate Nelson blocked Keith Dudum's punt inside the Gaels' 35. It rolled to the 6-yard line and was scooped up by Taylor who ran it in for the score. Yang's 36-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Flanigan, and Adriatico's 63-yard punt return with 1:48 to play rounded out the Aggies' scoring.
Ryan Sauter had a 37-yard touchdown run for Saint Mary's, which finished with 244 yards on the ground. Michael Oliva caught three passes for 81 yards for UC Davis.
The Gaels return to action on Saturday, October 1 when they travel to Cal Poly. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM in Mustang Stadium.
Monday, June 01
Sunday, May 31
Sunday, May 31
Saturday, May 30
