College Football Weekly Q&A: Causeway Classic Edition
The Sacramento area's biggest local college football game is the annual cross town rivalry game between UC Davis and Sacramento State. The 62nd annual Causeway Classic will take place Saturday at Hornet Stadium with the 1-9 Aggies visiting the 2-8 Hornets.
The records aren't impressive but the tradition sure is. So much history has been made in this rivalry that has had streaks, streakers, rain, sun, cold, mud, blood, sweat and tears. Saturday's edition features 2 teams desperate for a win and the victor will cap a tough season feeling good.
We had a chance on our show to talk with a student athlete from both schools as we caught up with Darnell Sankey and Kyle DeVaughn. Sankey is a senior linebacker that is 3rd in the nation in tackles, while Kyle DeVaughn is also a senior that helps anchor a stout Aggies defensive line. The following are some questions regarding the Causeway.
Q: Darnell, what does playing in the Causeway Classic mean to you?
A: It's obviously a tremendous blessing. We haven't had the year we wanted, they are 1-9 and we are 2-8 and that doesn't matter now. This is a rival game and we are going to come into this game with the mentality of winning. We are going to do everything we can do to take down the Aggies. This game is not only for us but for our boosters, and the alumni who love Sacramento State Football. This is a long traditional rivalry and this is going to be a battle, our hardest game we have played all year.
Q: Kyle, we are so close to game time, how are you feeling about this matchup?
A: This is a big game, I can't wait for this game. I am just shaking with excitement. It's like early Christmas. We can pretty much not think about anything else than this game. This rivalry goes back so far, nothing else matters. You don't think about the rest of the season and we can feel so much better with a win.
Q: Darnell, what would it mean to you if you and your fellow Hornets pull of a win and beat Davis for the 2nd consecutive year?
Definitely it would be an amazing feeling, especially on our home turf. Last year felt good at their stadium and our fan base came in strong, playing at home will be a completely different story. We want to keep this streak going. This means a lot to our alumni and we need to keep the winning going, our coaches have emphasized that this isn't just a normal week. One of their guys said it in the press conference where they don't like us and we don't like them. It's rivalry week so that's how we are going in to the game.
Q: Kyle, you have experienced winning over Sacramento State and a loss as well, describe the difference in emotions from those games?
A: My freshman and sophomore year we beat Sac State before last year. I was so excited. I felt we got this last year and things didn't work out, we made some turnovers, defense couldn't stop them properly. Watching Sac State celebrate down the field was tough and our locker room was quiet after that game.
The 62 annual Causeway Classic is Saturday at 2:30 at Hornet Stadium. Good luck to both sides and here's to many more years of a great rivalry.
