UC Davis bounces back by thumping Northern Colorado in Big Sky tilt
.jpeg "Trent Tompkins rushed for two touchdowns to help UC Davis to a 32-3 win over Northern Colorado on Saturday.")
Seven days later, this is more like it.
After storming to a 5-0 start to the season, UC Davis had its momentum stalled and stuffed on the road, falling by 10 at previously winless Idaho State.
On Saturday night at Jim Sochor Field, the No. 14 Aggies proved to be a resilient bunch, blasting Northern Colorado 32-3 in front of 10,963 on homecoming night.
It was the third festive home game of the season as fans filled the seats and the grassy berm below the scoreboard, this time to catch the Aggies back in their element.
After a scoreless first quarter, UCD used offensive balance and an inspired defense to move to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Sky. The 6-1 start matches UCD’s opening efforts in 2018, when the Aggies went on to win the program’s first Big Sky crown. Besides now and 2018, the last 6-1 start was 20 seasons ago, six years before the program’s move up to Division I.
“We know we can’t take any opponent lightly,” said UCD cornerback Jordan Perryman of the importance. He led the Aggies with nine tackles. “We might have gone in there (to Idaho State) a little big-headed. It was definitely humbling, and (the loss) definitely put us in our place.”
Northern Colorado managed just 11 first downs and converted three third-down conversions in gaining 254 yards of offense. Hunter Rodrigues passed for 187 yards and had a 1-yard touchdown pass to Jared Harrell for UCD to open the scoring, and Trent Tompkins rushed for scores of 5 and 4 yards for a 25-0 lead with 13:36 to play. Tompkins goes by “Magic” for his ability to do a little bit of everything, and UCD’s 1-2 quarterback combo was back on track with a lot of help.
Lan Larison capped it with an 11-yard touchdown as the Aggies amassed 398 yards, including 211 rushing. All of that production behind an offensive line that was not at full strength, but UCD is built on depth and experience. The Aggies had eight different players catch the ball and six different rushers. Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. rushed for a game-high 104 yards on 22 carries and helped chew clock. Larison scooted for 62 on 11 carries and Tompkins went for 24 on eight.
“When we get the run game going, it opens it up for everyone,” Rodrigues said. “We’ve got so many guys who are weapons with the ball. That’s what this offense is built on, spreading the ball and getting it to playmakers.”
The Aggies quarterback said of his defense, “The defense played lights out and put us in good field position. (Northern Colorado) goes three-and-out, and that makes us want to do something with the ball to help the defense.”
UCD coach Dan Hawkins gave Northern Colorado (2-5, 1-3) a lot of credit for competing as the Bears of Greeley came in shorthanded due to injuries and COVID issues.
“They started with the single-wing, double tight end, three guys in the backfield,” Hawkins said with a laugh. “OK, let’s go! Old-school football. Give them credit for being inventive.”
Hawkins said he told his team that he did not want the Idaho State setback to eat at their “soul.”
“You have to learn from defeat,” Hawkins said. “You can’t take it as an indictment. We’re still a good football team. You learn from the loss and press on. There’s a lot of ways to measure a football team in a season. One of the ways is not losing two games in a row. It’s part of life and football. You get knocked down. Get back up. It’s a good life lesson and a good football lesson.”
UCD plays at Cal Poly next, followed by a bye.
This story was originally published October 17, 2021 at 7:17 AM.