Local colleges: No. 7 UC Davis aims for 6-0 start and Sacramento State looks to go 3-2
.jpg "Sac State head coach Troy Taylor greets his team as they come off the field Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, during the game against Weber State at Hornet Stadium.")
There were all sorts of impact plays last Saturday for UC Davis, and then there was the unsung efforts of Devon King.
The junior defensive back sealed UCD’s 27-20 triumph over Idaho in Big Sky Conference action that ensured a 5-0 start for the first time since 2004 with a late interception, but he wasn’t done contributing. King, still in uniform, helped push a bulky and full equipment cart up the ramp to the training room. His effort moved UCD coach Dan Hawkins, who posted an image on Twitter.
Hawkins praised King for his perseverance, for overcoming injuries, for being ready.
“He’s battled through a lot,” Hawkins said this week. “He makes the game-winning play and has the humility to help the trainer.”
It’s been an “everyone contributes” theme for the Aggies, who inched up to No. 7 in the national FCS polls. A 6-0 start would be the program’s best in 21 seasons and it can be accomplished with a victory at winless-yet-dangerous Idaho State on Saturday, a noon kickoff at Holt Arena.
Sacramento State (2-2) is coming off a bye and hosts Southern Utah on Saturday at 6 p.m. in another Big Sky contest.
UCD beat Idaho behind quarterbacks Miles Hastings and Trent Tompkins and a trick play in which Tompkins drilled a lateral pass to Carson Crawford, who then threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to McCallan Castles.
Hastings started in place of Hunter Rodrigues, who sat out the Idaho game due to concussion protocols, though he led plenty of cheers from the sideline while in uniform and with headsets on. Hawkins said Tuesday that Rodrigues is “back in action and looks good.”
UCD has outscored opponents 65-0 in the fourth quarter this season, including Idaho 14-0. Depth, skill, experience and desire have added up to a fast start.
“We’re doing a great job in the fourth quarter,” Hawkins said. “We are 5-0. There are a lot of teams who want to be 5-0 and we happen to be one of them. We’re trying to get better and improve, and that’s the coaches, players, everybody.”
Hornets rested and ready
Sac State had a bye last week but coaches hit the recruiting trail, attending high school games, including head coach Troy Taylor and defensive coordinator Andy Thompson checking out Capital Christian and star quarterback Anthony Garcia, son of assistant coach and one-time Hornets signal caller Aaron Garcia. The Hornets offered Garcia a scholarship.
Sac State aims to move to 2-0 in the Big Sky against a Southern Utah team that comes in at 1-4 and 0-2 in conference.
The Hornets last played Sept. 25, beating Idaho State 23-21 in shutting out the Bengals in the second half. Fourth-quarter interceptions by Munchie Filer and Marte Mapu led the defensive charge, and Tyler Hardeman had a career-high nine tackles. Kyle Sentowski booted three field goals in a game for the second time this season, and his three kicks accounted for all of the second-half scoring, earning him Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Sac State has used two quarterbacks in Jake Dunniway and Asher O’Hara, and Taylor has said, “We can win with either guy.” Dunniway passed for 302 yards and a touchdown against Idaho State. O’Hara passed for 34 and rushed for 47.
Southern Utah lost 20-13 to Portland State last week in a season of tough breaks. The team is led by quarterback Justin Miller, who has 985 yards passing and five touchdowns. Saturday marks the final Big Sky football clash between the programs. Southern Utah will join the Western Athletic Conference for the fall, 2022 season.
UC Davis (5-0) at Idaho State (0-4)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: Holt Arena, Pocatello
On air: Sports 1140 KHTK; ESPN+
Of note: Erron Duncan blocked a field goal and Chubba Maae blocked a PAT against Idaho. ... Six of UCD’s 14 takeaways have come in the fourth quarter and three clinched games: Chris Venable’s forced fumble at Tulsa, Duncan’s late interception at Weber State and King’s theft with 40 seconds to go against Idaho. ... Carson Crawford is a receiver who throws a nice ball, including two trick-play touchdowns in his career. His father, Chris Crawford, was a 1988 All-American passer at Portland State. ... Idaho State has been rocked by injuries, including QB Tyler Vander Waal of Sacramento, out with a shoulder issue. ... Idaho State ranks second-to-last in the Big Sky in scoring at 15.5 points and last in passing yards a game (166.8) and last in passing touchdowns (four).
Southern Utah (1-4) at Sacramento State (2-2)
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Where: Hornet Stadium
On air: ESPN 1320 AM; CW31 TV; ESPN+
Of note: Sac State has started 2-0 in the Big Sky twice before, in 2013 when the team went 4-4 in conference play, and in 2019 when they went 7-1 and won a share of the program’s first Big Sky title when Taylor earned national Coach of the Year honors. ... Sac State and Southern Utah are tied 9-9 in head-to-head meetings, including 6-3 at home. The first meeting was in 1986 as members of the America West Conference, but there was only one meeting between 1996-2010. ... Southern Utah is coached by 2008 UC Davis graduate DeMario Warren, in his sixth year with the Thunderbirds.