No. 21 Aggies Power Their Way to a 44-21 Victory in Big Sky Opener

Sep 24, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Feb 27, 2020, 10:03 am

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jake Maier #15 of the UC Davis Aggies drops back to pass against the ...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

DAVIS, Calif. – Sophomore sociology major Tehran Thomas posted his second career 100-yard game with 119 yards on the ground, while junior communication major Jake Maier threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns on the night, lifting No. 21 UC Davis to a, 44-21, victory over Idaho in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams on Saturday night at Aggie Stadium.

The Aggies improved to 3-1 overall on the year and 1-0 in Big Sky play, opening league play with a win in their Big Sky home opener for the second straight year following a 48-24 win over North Dakota last season.

The Vandals, playing in their first Big Sky contest since 1995, fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in league.

Thomas’ performance was his second career 100-yard game, which fell just shy of his career-best 125-yard performance against Sacramento State on Nov. 18 of last season. His four-yard burst into the end zone staked the Aggies to a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter, part of a run that saw UC Davis score the first 24 points of the game.

Freshman biochemistry and molecular biology major Ulonzo Gilliam finished with 133 all-purpose yards, gaining 84 on the ground and catching four balls for 49 yards — including a 34-yard touchdown pass from Maier in the third quarter.

Maier’s three touchdown passes were a season high, finding senior sociology-organizational studies major Keelan Doss for a 20-yard strike to open the scoring just 3:28 into the game, and hitting sophomore biological sciences major Darius Livingston in the end zone for his first career touchdown catch with 1:35 remaining in the third.

Junior communication major Max O’Rourke hit all three of his field goal attempts from 31, 29, and 35 yards, while senior managerial economics major Namane Modise capitalized on a blocked punt by sophomore neurobiology, physiology, and behavior major Connor Airey at the Vandal one-yard line, recovering the ball in the end zone for a touchdown to open the scoring in the second quarter.

Sophomore Jared Harrell led UC Davis with four catches for 66 yards — one of 10 different receivers on the night.

Senior psychology major Isiah Olave finished with a team-high nine tackles, while senior American Studies major Mason Moe finished with four tackles and an interception inside the red zone.

The Aggies have the next week off before returning to the road to take on Northern Colorado on Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. PT in Greeley, Colo.

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No. 21 Aggies Power Their Way to a 44-21 Victory in Big Sky Opener