UC Davis concludes a topsy-turvy football season tonight against San Diego needing a victory to finish with a .500 record.
The Aggies (5-6) are on a two-game losing streak following defeats to Sacramento State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. They are attempting to avoid their second consecutive losing season after 37 winning seasons in a row.
UC Davis has relied upon its high-powered passing attack all season. Coach Bob Biggs said he entered the season believing in his three-pronged wide receiver corps of senior Brandon Rice and juniors Chris Carter and Bakari Grant.
Sophomore quarterback Greg Denham was an unknown quantity entering the season.
Denham has responded to become the fifth UC Davis quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards (3,044 yards) and 25 touchdowns. He's thrown for more than 300 yards in four consecutive games, and, with 274 passing yards against San Diego, Denham will record the fourth-highest season total in school history.
Denham's success has allowed the wide receivers to meet Biggs' expectations.
"It's difficult to have three wide receivers as talented as the ones we have and really have them as productive as they've been," Biggs said. "We've been able to find ways to allow them to make plays."
Rice is coming off career highs of 145 receiving yards and three touchdowns last week in the Aggies' 51-26 loss at Cal Poly. For the season, Rice has 50 catches for 740 yards and a team-leading nine touchdowns.
Rice is expected to receive ample attention from the Toreros after his 18-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Matt Engle with nine seconds left last season gave the host Aggies a 49-46 victory.
Carter leads UC Davis in receptions (68) and receiving yards (759). Grant has 57 catches for 624 yards – his longest reception this season went for 54 yards.
However, wide receivers and quarterbacks do not amass statistical success unless their offensive line performs well. Biggs admitted he had questions about his team's line entering the season, but says that it became a productive unit.
"The development of the offensive line has been a key to any success we've had," Biggs said. "They started slowly but have come together as a group and really have been solid. It goes without saying they have played very well.
"They maybe have exceeded our wide receivers in terms of expectations."
Biggs knows his defense has not been a strong point. The Aggie defense is allowing an average of 27.1 points; the offense averages 29.3 points per game. That's a small margin of error.
"We haven't been real good at getting pressure on the quarterback," Biggs said. "Last week, we tried to take away (Cal Poly's) passing, and they killed us with the run. They pose a different problem because they have so many talented skill position players.
"Sometimes you just have to tip your hat, and they were a little better than us."
Unfortunately for Biggs and UC Davis, every team they've played on the road this season has been better. The Aggies are 0-5 on the road.
Call The Bee's Martin McNeal, (916) 326-5504.
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