UC Davis escapes with 42-39 victory over Sacramento State in 70th Causeway Classic
Miles Hastings threw three touchdown passes for UC Davis, but it was Lan Larinson's 59-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter that helped the Aggies hold off Sacramento State 42-39 in the 70th Causeway Classic on Saturday.
The Aggies (10-2, 7-1 Big Sky Conference), ranked No. 5 in the FCS coaches poll and awaiting an at-large bid to the playoffs, survived an upset effort by the Hornets (3-9, 1-7) and another letdown after getting within a two-point conversion of forcing overtime in a 30-28 loss to undefeated No. 2 Montana State with the conference championship on the line last Saturday.
.@UCDfootball keeps the 🏆 @CBSSacramento pic.twitter.com/7zcTXw0qv5
— Jake Gadon (@JakeGadon_TV) November 24, 2024
It was a one-score game until Hastings connected with Winston Williams for an 8-yard touchdown, putting UC Davis up 35-24 with 7:32 left in the fourth quarter.
Carson Conklin answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Tau-Tolliver then hit Anderson Grover for the 2-point conversion to get Sacramento State within three points with 4:21 left to play. Conklin had with a 30-yard scoring strike to Danny Scudero with 60 seconds remaining following Larison's long touchdown run. The Aggies used three plays to run out the clock.
Hornets scored another TD with a minute to go. The onside kick came so close to going Sac State’s way, but the Aggies close it out winning 42-39
— Brandon Benitez (@BranitezSports) November 24, 2024
Catch the action with @JakeGadon_TV and I tonight on @CBSSacramento pic.twitter.com/xL1ocjMzLK
Hastings finished with 398 yards on 27-for-36 passing with one interception for UC Davis. He had touchdown throws covering 29 yards to Samuel Gbatu Jr. in the first quarter and 5 yards to Williams in the second. Gbatu finished with five receptions for 143 yards.
Larison totaled 148 yards on 23 carries for the Aggies, adding a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and a 12-yarder early in the fourth.
Conklin, a freshman, completed 32 of 44 passes for 389 yards with five touchdowns and an interception for the Hornets. His yardage and scoring throws were season highs. Scudero caught seven passes for 140 yards, while Grover finished with 10 receptions for 102. Jared Gipson had two touchdown grabs among his four catches for 53 yards.
The Hornets have not won since beating Weber State 51-48 in overtime in a mid-October home game.
UC Davis now holds a 48-23 record in the Causeway Classic.