Even though the Hornets haven’t won the Causeway Classic in five years, trivia doesn’t concern head coach Steve Mooshagian.

“As soon as our players get hit in the adam’s apple they’ll forget about the trivia and just play,” Mooshagian said.

Mooshagian is looking to win his first Causeway this season, after a tough loss last year.

Sacramento State appeared on their way to victory last year until it slipped away.

“It seems like in the last few years this team has found ways to lose rather than ways to win,” Mooshagian said.

After a Blake Mori touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, the score was 27-24 Hornets. UC Davis proceeded to march down the field in the final 1:40 of regulation to score and win last year’s Causeway Classic 31-27.

“That drive still lingers in my mind to this day,” said Sac State senior cornerback Ramon Payne, who in five years as a Hornet has never beaten the Aggies.

Now entering his 11th season with Davis, Head Coach Bob Biggs will fight for his 10th causeway victory over Sac State, and his second win over Coach Mooshagian.

“We’re a team of no-names and I like that,” Biggs said. “We have great character on this football team.”

Davis has taken eight of the last 10 Causeway Classics and come out in 2004 2-0 after wins over South Dakota State and Weber State.

After being blown out in their season opener, senior quarterback Ryan Leadingham led the Hornets to their first win of the year last Saturday in the home opener against Southern Utah.

Leadingham will be looking for redemption as his arm injuries suffered in last year’s Causeway Classic kept him out for the rest of the season.

“This game means everything to me, to step on the field one more time against these guys will be special,” Leadingham said. “This is probably the biggest game of my career if we win.”

In week one, Aggie quarterback Jon Grant completed 20 passes out of 24 attempts for 278 yards and four touchdowns. In week two, Grant followed with another impressive performance passing for 311 yards and threw for a pair of scores.

“Jon Grant was just a name on the depth chart last year,” Biggs said. “He really proved himself in spring workouts and has played well this year.”

The playmakers come to play every year the rivals meet. In 2003, All-American receiver Fred Amey recorded 110 yards on eight catches and a touchdown. While Antar Mahasin rushed 34 times, passing the century mark with 163 yards at Hornet Stadium.

This will mark the first year since 1998 that the Aggies will host the game at Toomey Field. It will also mark the final time the game will be played at Toomey as ground will be broken next spring for a new multi-purpose stadium to house the football team.

“You’re motivated in any rivalry game, but in this one there’s extra motivation with the alumni there, it’s a family atmosphere,” Aggies senior wide receiver Jesse Oliva said.