It was a game that was as unevenly matched as the score indicated. The Hornets were outclassed, outnumbered and outexecuted by the mighty University of California, Davis, Aggies in all phases of the game.

The gap between Davis and the Hornets has widened considerably. In fact, it?s a gigantic gaping hole that swallowed the entire Hornet football team before game time. So what is it that sets these two bitter rivals apart?

“Turnovers were the difference in the game. Overall, we have better athletes,” said Bilal Watkins, the Hornets? injured defensive tackle who observed the game from the sidelines.

Turnovers were indeed the killer for the Hornets, committing seven of them while the Aggies had one. The Hornets committed so many in different ways, it was almost comical in the sense that a team could get so many different players contributing to the cause. The Aggies followed one simple blueprint and worked it to perfection in their enemy?s house.

“We held on to the ball, had great field position and played our game, which is to put points on the board and get turnovers,” said Davis signal quarterback J.T. O?Sullivan, as he revealed to the rest of the football world what their secret to success is.

The heady senior looked like he?d been running the same offense for 10 years. He was a field general. His timing with his receivers was well choreographed as he found receivers running through the holes of the Hornets? zone secondary. He found guys deep. He put his receivers in position to do something after the catch. The Hornet defense was also repeatedly gashed by Davis? fireplug of a halfback, Matt Massari.

Playaction by the Aggies? It worked with tremendous success. Check. When the Hornets sent the house on defense, Davis went with heavy protection schemes. Davis seemed to have the answers before being asked the question. It was a masterful mix and match of a game plan.

Meanwhile, the Hornet offense was fighting an uphill, Mount Everest-type battle for most of the evening. Davis put Ryan Leadingham under constant duress, not to mention on his back, through the game.

While the freshman never lowered his head, his team was never in this game. Down 30-0 after a Davis touchdown late in the third quarter, Leadingham was seen on the sidelines telling his teammates, “Don?t quit.”This game was a trial for the young signal caller with the hopes that maybe someday he will be leading a fastbreak Hornet offense against Davis the same way the polished O?Sullivan ran the field for the Aggies Saturday.

The Hornets must find a way to hold onto the ball more frequently for next year?s Causeway Classic. Losing a game because of domination at the line of scrimmage or lack of talent is one thing, but turnovers are unacceptable.