UC Davis linebacker David Meyer saved 2 Aggies victories, then ‘spear-tackled’ coach in joy
Tim Plough returned to Yolo County from Utah late Saturday night, beaming in victory and pained a bit with a swollen lip. No complaints, though.
The first-year UC Davis football coach this week said the gash on his pucker was courtesy of one of the good guys. After linebacker David Meyer sealed the Aggies’ second consecutive victory with a late interception to secure a 24-21 effort over Southern Utah to move his team to 2-1, he excitedly bolted to a sideline that was equally as eager to greet him. Such zest is part of the “Find Joy” theme rooted in the program.
“The cool part was to see our entire sideline when David made that interception,” Plough said during his weekly media session. “He got down (to the turf to end the game), and then he came and spear-tackled me. Busted my lip open. Just a cool moment.”
Victory always tastes good, even laced with blood. Ranked No. 13 in the FCS, UCD on Saturday night at UC Davis Health Stadium will host Utah Tech.
You can bet Meyer will be in the mix. The Mission Viejo native has had a sense for the ball since he starting playing the sport. It’s carried into his collegiate career, including three seasons at Cal Poly, a UCD rival in the Big Sky Conference.
As a graduate transfer, Meyer became an Aggie through the transfer portal after the 2023 season, eager for new challenges. He met teammates who used to be opponents, learned the defensive schemes in quick order, had a productive fall camp and has delivered late-game heroics.
In UCD’s home opener on Sept. 7 against Texas A&M Commerce, Meyer rejected the Lions’ last-gasp effort with a 60-yard interception return into the end zone, the final nail in a 36-22 triumph and Plough’s first win at his alma mater. Meyer also registered 15 tackles to earn Co-Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors.
At Southern Utah, Meyer halted the Thunderbirds’ final drive with an interception with 25 seconds remaining. The defense, Miles Hasting passing for two touchdowns and All-American running back Lan Larison accounting for 180 all-purpose yards has the Aggies picking up steam.
In 2022 when he earned All-Big Sky honors at Cal Poly, Meyer cemented a Mustangs victory with an interception with 19 seconds to go. But he didn’t seek coaches to level after that game. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Meyer leads UCD with 22 solo tackles and 34 total, and he has two of his team’s three interceptions.
No one is more giddy for the guy than Plough and Aggies defensive coordinator Matt Coombs. Plough said he’ll be sure to keep an eye out for his ever-charging linebacker.
“When he tackled me,” Plough said with a smile, “he reminded me that he would’ve scored again. Told him, ‘Thanks for getting down (to avoid a fumble).”
High on Hutton
In a previous stint as UCD’s offensive coordinator, Plough recruited CJ Hutton out of powerhouse Folsom High School, where he earned Sacramento Bee All-Metro honors. Plough appreciated the way Hutton made plays as a receiver, as a blocker and with energy. He’s been a mainstay since the spring 2021 Aggies season and has been invaluable, Plough said.
Hutton against Southern Utah led UCD in receiving, grabbing six passes for 84 yards. He led the Aggies in receptions in the opener at Cal with seven catches for 68 yards. He leads the team with 16 receptions for 178 yards, and he can electrify on kickoff returns. Hutton returned a kickoff 46 yards against Southern Utah.
Big on versatility, Hutton also had a key block to spring Larison for a 50-yard run.
“Really proud of CJ,” Plough said. “I’m happy for him to be playing free and with joy. The kickoff return was a huge, huge play. We put him back there three weeks ago. Who can we trust to make the right decisions on returns?”
Utah Tech (0-3) at No. 13 UC Davis (2-1)
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
On air: KHTK 1140, ESPN+
Of note: This is the second meeting between the programs with UCD rolling 60-27 in 2021 when Utah Tech went by Dixie State; Larison rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown for UCD in the 2021 meeting. Utah Tech opened this season with a 31-7 loss to FCS No. 4 Montana State followed by a 42-17 loss at FBS-level UNLV, which is 3-0, and a 45-17 setback to Northern Arizona of the Big Sky Conference. Originally a two-year junior college that went by Dixie, Utah Tech joined the four-year NCAA level at Division II in 2006. The program made the move up to Division I in 2020. The program has gone 9-29 against FCS competition and 61-129 all-time as a four-year program, including 2-9 in 2023.