So neither of these coaches is going to have much fun until their players start running around and throwing footballs again, say, sometime after the new year.

Bob Biggs endured another trying season (4-7) at UC Davis. Marshall Sperbeck endured another trying season (4-7) at Sacramento State. (Asked to describe the past few months, the normally agreeable Sperbeck on Saturday went speechless.)

But the Aggies, who join the Hornets next season in the offense-giddy Big Sky Conference, can at least say they finished with a more familiar offensive look, and with one memorable, explosive, 66-yard knockout blow delivered by Colton Silveria.

In their latest victory over the Hornets, quarterback Randy Wright converted 14 of 23 passes for 171 yards, including quick strikes against the blitz and two 40-yard-plus play-action throws over the top. Six receivers caught passes, led by Tom Hemmingsen's five catches for 50 yards. And with the offensive line plowing the Hornets aside, particularly in the decisive second half, the Aggies rushed for 206 yards, led by Silveria with 170.

As Biggs has said for weeks, one of the best things about the 2012 Aggies also happens to be one of the worst things about these 2011 Aggies: Youth.

Wright, Hemmingsen and tight end Taylor Sloat are sophomores. Silveria is a freshman, as are tight end Corey Galindo, running back Austin Edmonson and highly regarded backup quarterback London Lacy.

"I like our football team," Biggs reiterated. "I think we have a lot of very talented young football players, and they have a great attitude. Great chemistry."

Biggs, who just completed his 19th year as the Aggies coach, and who is known for grooming future NFL quarterbacks in the days when UC Davis dominated Division II, also informed the media gathering that he is signing yet another coveted high school quarterback – the player to be named later, or when NCAA rules allow.

Next season, though, as the Aggies step into the Big Sky future, he envisions a balanced attack, perhaps featuring the 5-foot-10, 215-pound Silveria. It turns out, one program's defensive back is another school's all-purpose running back: Silveria, a former track star, was recruited by Cal as a safety, but partly because he loves to run, went to Davis as a running back.

While rehabilitating a broken leg during his senior season, he visited his former Central Valley High teammate, Jimmy Kunkel, a 300-pound offensive lineman who had enrolled at Davis a year earlier. Impressed with the school and the surroundings, he contacted Biggs and reiterated his interest in the Aggies.

And interestingly, while a Biggs' offense has been in an uncharacteristic protracted slump – injuries being a significant factor for both UC Davis and Sac State – the ground game is better than usual, with Silveria one of the major reasons.

"Colton is the complete package," Biggs says, citing the back's combination of speed and power, along with pass-catching skills that have yet to be exploited.

About 10 pounds heavier and noticeably thicker than when he ran track high school track in Redding, Silveria tries to "keep the defense guessing. … I don't want them to know if I'm just going to try to hit the hole hard, or start to hit the hole, then juke a little bit."

Silveria, who carried for 31 yards on the previous nine-play, 86-yard drive that led to a Sean Kelly field goal and extended the UC Davis lead to 20-13 midway in the fourth quarter, saved his best for the finish. After the Hornets were forced to punt, he took the handoff on the Aggies' 23-yard line and blew past defenders until he was tackled on the Hornets 11.

"He just kept his feet moving," praised Sac State defensive end Ben Cowger.

This won't be Cowger's last sighting of Silveria, either. Since both are freshmen, three more Causeway Classics await. Meantime, the Aggies were the ones walking out of Hornet Stadium on Saturday, still disappointed in their season, but with a little strut in their steps. Victories in rivalry games tend to have that effect.

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