College football: The gorilla is off UC Davis’ back as the Aggies chase a playoff berth
Dan Hawkins arrived at his Monday morning media gathering in good spirits. He came in a gorilla outfit, perfect for Halloween good fun, but also fitting for the college football season.
The UC Davis coach had reason to smile behind the gorilla mask. His team’s spirited three-game winning streak has removed the proverbial gorilla off the backs of the program that entered the season expecting to reach their third FCS playoff since 2018.
“A little fun,” Hawkins said of his outfit and the season of late.
UCD’s 1-4 start amid the most difficult schedule in program history is now an encouraging 4-4. In successive weeks, the Aggies blasted past Northern Arizona 56-27, Northern Colorado 58-10 and Cal Poly 59-17. The Aggies on Saturday host struggling Idaho State in the home finale, but they will not take this program or anyone lightly. They cannot afford to do so.
A year ago, UCD’s 5-0 start to the season was jolted in Pocatello with a 27-17 loss to the Bengals, that program’s lone day of success during a 1-10 season.
Now at 3-2 in the Big Sky Conference, UCD can secure that playoff berth if it keeps on winning. It’s that simple.
“After those first five games, we knew what the road ahead of us was going to be like,” UCD defensive captain Teddye Buchanan said after he returned one of his two interceptions against Cal Poly for a touchdown, thus earning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors. “We knew that we were going to need to win out. We’ve been able to do that so far, but we’ve got a lot of football left to play. We’ve got three huge games coming up.”
UCD visits upstart Idaho on Nov. 12 and visits No. 2 Sacramento State in the annual Causeway Classic on Nov. 19.
Miles Hastings earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors after producing a career day against Cal Poly. UCD’s sophomore quarterback from San Marcos completed 22 of 27 passes for 425 yards and four touchdowns, and the Aggies eclipsed 50 or more points in three consecutive games for the first time since 2000.
In that three-game stretch, Hastings has completed 82% of his passes for 1,004 yards, nine touchdowns with no interceptions. He leads the Big Sky in passing with 284.99 yards per game, and his 2,279 yards and 18 touchdowns rank third.
Said Hastings, “The last couple weeks, we’ve played some really good team football. That’s been a really big thing for us just looking forward because we have a tough stretch here.”
Idaho State (1-7) at UC Davis (4-4)
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where: Health Stadium, Davis
On air: SacTown Sports 1140; ESPN+
Quick hits: UCD’s all-time career rushing leader, Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr., is second in the Big Sky in rushing with 1,108 (and 11 touchdowns). ... Idaho State is 0-3 all time on the road against UCD. ... Idaho State had seven sacks in all of 2021 and has 15 this season. ... Idaho State’s victory this season was 40-31 over Cal Poly as Hunter Hays passed for 202 yards and the team rushed for 293 yards.