Aggies Offensive Outburst Leads Them To 45-28 Victory Over Portland State
Nov 11, 2019, 8:54 AM | Updated: 8:54 am
HILLSBORO, Ore. – Freshman
Lance Babb II and sophomore
biochemistry and molecular biology major Ulonzo
Gilliam, Jr. combined for five total touchdowns on Saturday afternoon to help
UC Davis cruise to a 45-28 win on the road at Portland State.
The triumph boosted UC Davis to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
Senior communication major Jake Maier led UC Davis’ passing attack with 383
yards through the air, tossing four touchdowns and one interception.
Gilliam Jr. totaled 242 yards to lead the Aggies’ ground attack and added two
touchdowns in the game, picking up 8.3 yards per carry along the way. Junior
human development major Jared Harrell also tacked on 16 yards on the ground,
picking up 16 yards per carry, as well as 38 receiving yards.
Maier’s most prolific target in the ballgame was Babb II, who caught 10 passes for 168 yards
and three scores. Junior sociology major Khris
Vaughn got in on the action in the passing game as well, hauling in five balls
for 121 yards and one touchdown.
Freshman Nick Eaton led the UC Davis defensive effort, collecting eight
tackles, 2.0 TFL, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. Senior managerial
economics major Brandon Jamison added five tackles, 2.0 TFL, and two sacks and
freshman Josiah Suani had four tackles
and 2.0 TFL in the win.
UC Davis got on the scoreboard first and took a 7-0 lead. Babb II caught a
26-yard touchdown reception from Maier with 7:55 remaining in the first quarter
to close a seven-play, 80-yard scoring drive.
After Portland State tied it at 7-7, UC Davis scored again to jump back in
front 14-7. The Aggies capped a nine-play, 80-yard scoring drive when Babb
pulled in a five-yard touchdown reception from Maier with 11:30 left in the
second quarter.
UC Davis’ lead continued to expand after they put points on the board again to
bring their advantage to 17-7. Senior communication major Max O’Rourke made a
23-yard field goal with 7:04 left in the second quarter to finish off an
eight-play, 77-yard scoring drive.
UC Davis continued to build its advantage after Portland State narrowed the gap
to 17-14, scoring again to go up 24-14. The Aggies closed a three-play, 82-yard
drive when Jr. Gilliam ran in a 75-yard touchdown with 5:09 remaining in the
third quarter.
UC Davis continued to extend its advantage after Portland State closed the gap
to 24-21, scoring again to go up 31-21. Maier found Babb II on a 23-yard
touchdown catch with 11:39 remaining in the fourth quarter to finish off a
10-play, 67-yard drive.
The Vikings then rallied, tallying seven points before UC Davis responded,
getting back in their scoring ways with a three-play, 75-yard scoring drive
that culminated in a 58-yard touchdown strike from Maier to Vaughn with 7:36
left in the fourth quarter. O’Rourke converted the extra point attempt to give
the Aggies the 38-28 lead.
UC Davis held the Vikings off the board before scoring for a final time with
:54 left in the fourth quarter, stretching their lead to 45-28. Gilliam
converted a 19-yard touchdown run to cap a three-play, 40-yard drive. Neither
team scored again in the game.
Both teams forced one turnover in Saturday’s contest, with UC Davis turning
that takeaway into seven points. UC Davis also had an outstanding day
offensively, racking up 649 total yards, 266 on the ground and 383 through the
air, while averaging 9.0 yards per play and out-gaining Portland State. The UC
Davis offense did a good job extending drives, converting on 50 percent of
third-down attempts.
UC Davis’ defense held up fairly well against the run, limiting Portland State
to 150 yards on the ground. The Aggies defense owned Portland State’s backfield
all game, piling up four sacks and eight total tackles for loss.
UC Davis’ offense made the most of its trips to the red zone, scoring 17 points
on three red zone appearances.
The Aggies are back in action on November 16, when they’ll take on Montana
State at UC Davis Health Stadium.
