The 48th Causeway Classic was dubbed “Sac State?s Bowl Game” by head coach John Volek, but it turned out to be another loss ? the team?s fifth in a row.

University of California, Davis, head coach Bob Biggs said his team just came to play, but it takes two to tango. The Hornets, however, had five lost fumbles, four coming in the first half as well as two late interceptions. The turnovers not only hurt the Sac State offense, but they forced the defense to be out on the field for more than half the game.

“I?m greatly disappointed with the turnovers,” Sac State coach Jon Volek said. “Momentum is a big thing, and (UC Davis) continued to build it.”

The first fumble of the night, a definite turning point, came with just less than two minutes into the game. After a Hornet interception was returned to the UC Davis 4-yard line, quarterback Ryan Leadingham fumbled the ball at the goal line, taking away a possible Hornet lead. Leadingham disagreed with the call, saying he already scored and let the ball go after the whistle blew the play over.

“It wasn?t a fumble, but they called it a fumble,” he said. “I was trying to celebrate with my team.”

Things did not get better for Leadingham.Seven minutes later, Leadingham fumbled again, setting up the Aggies? first score ? a touchdown. Leadingham fumbled once more in the second half, accounting for three of the five Hornet fumbles.

What hurt more was the fact that four of the five lost fumbles by Sac State were inside the UC Davis 40-yard line, all possible scoring chances for the Hornets.The seven turnovers tied a school record, done twice during Sac State?s 1993 campaign.But the seven turnovers made the defense play 34 minutes of the 60-minute game.Volek knew that would put a definite strain on the defense.

“You cannot turn the ball over that many times and expect to win,” Volek said. “It puts way too much pressure on our defense.”

UC Davis took advantage of the turnovers, and effectively used the run and pass to perfection. The Hornet defense gave up 278 rushing yards as well as 285 yards passing. But 28 of UC Davis? 43 points came off of Sac State turnovers.

Sac State has not been able to control the running game of late. In each of the Hornets? last three games, the defense has given up more than 200 yards on the ground. In four of the last five games for the Hornets, the team has given up more than 400 total yards to its opponents. In Sac State?s last two games, both at home, the opponent has gotten a mind-boggling 500-plus total yards.

“We need to get better,” Volek said. “We cannot continue to make mistakes.”