Aggies rally late to drop Sacramento State in what may be the final Causeway Classic

Dramatic 31-27 win assures UC Davis of yet another FCS playoff bid

UC Davis and Sacramento State have now played 72 games in the annual Causeway Classic, but few can rival the back-and-forth, up-and-down, fight-to-the-death emotional battle that took place Saturday afternoon before 14,950 fans at UC Davis Health Stadium.

Suffice it to say, no one left early.

Once leading 14-0, but then trailing 27-17 entering the fourth quarter, the Aggies thrilled the home crowd with the game’s final two touchdowns, then held off a promising Sacramento State drive at the end to take a 31-27 win from their archrival and sew up a bid to the 24-team FCS playoffs.

“We get to keep this trophy forever,” said a thrilled Aggie head coach Tim Plough, confirming the notion that with Sacramento State exiting the Big Sky Conference, these teams might never play again.

Plough had a huge smile as he celebrated with his team at midfield, but at his packed post-game press conference, he admitted “The look on my face was probably more relief than joy.”