Cause(way) for concern
February 22, 2007
UC Davis linebacker Dan Elbanna couldn’t have drawn up a better script for his first collegiate start Saturday night.
In the Aggies’ 38-21 Causeway Classic win over Sacramento State (1-4) at Hughes Stadium, the freshman made a team-high 14 tackles, intercepted a pass, recorded a sack, and blocked a punt which resulted in a touchdown.
“It gives you big momentum when the unexpected happens,” Elbanna said. “You’re not supposed to score on special teams and defense.”
The Aggies (4-1) did both on Saturday. Defensive back Michael Penna picked up Elbanna’s second quarter blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown. Justin Patterson scooped up a Ryan Leadingham fumble in the third quarter before returning it 66 yards for a score.
In all, the Hornets turned the ball over four times on the night — two fumbles and two interceptions.
The Aggies led 24-7 midway through the third quarter following Patterson’s fumble return. On the ensuing Hornet possession, quarterback Ryan Leadingham suffered a hit which sidelined him for the remainder of the series.
Backup quarterback Blake Mori and running back Garrett White filled in at quarterback while Leadingham was being looked over by Sac State trainers on the sideline.
“I got hit in the back of the neck by another helmet,” Leadingham said. “It felt like my head had fallen off. But that’s going to happen in football, you have to come back and play.”
Sure enough, the sophomore quarterback was back at the helm on the next Hornet possession. And this time, Leadingham and the Hornet offense had something up their sleeve.
With one minute, 47 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Leadingham connected with Kenan Smith on a button-hook pattern near the right sideline. Smith tossed the ball to running back Garrett White, who streaked 37 yards down the sideline to make the score 24-14. The hook-and-ladder play was just the beginning of a wild finish to the 49th Causeway Classic.
On the ensuing kickoff, Davis attempted a reverse between their two kick returners. The ball was fumbled on the exchange, and Hornet linebacker Noel Tauettia recovered it at the UC Davis 13-yard line. However, the Hornet linebacker was called for excessive celebration after tossing the ball into the air, and the Sac State offense was pushed back 15 yards to the 28-yard line.
“You’ve got to stay disciplined,” Hornet coach John Volek said. “(We lost) momentum with turnovers and stupid penalties.”
Elbanna intercepted Leadingham’s pass on the very next play.
The Hornet defense then forced the Aggie offense into a punt, which Fred Amey returned 90 yards for a touchdown.
In a three minute, five second span, the Hornets had trimmed 14 points off the Aggie lead, making the score 24-21 with over thirteen minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets were unable to draw any closer however, and two 15-yard touchdown passes from Aggie quarterback Ryan Flanigan sealed the game for UC Davis.
The Hornets missed several first half opportunities to put points up on the board, including two missed field goals by Brett Levier.
“(Poor kicking) is hurting us,” Volek said. “We can’t just give up points after the offense takes us down in the red zone. I thought we solved this last week at Idaho State.”
With the loss, Volek fell to 2-6 in games against the Aggies. The Hornets have not won the Causeway Classic since 1999, but Leadingham felt he had chances to put an end to that streak on Saturday.
“I didn’t make the plays to help my team win,” Leadingham said.
The Hornet quarterback threw for 265 yards on 21-of-43 passing, with one touchdown and two interceptions. White led the Hornet rushing attack with 72 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Amey led the Hornets in receiving with 95 yards. The Hornet receiver had 275 total yards and one touchdown on the night.
Leadingham’s counterpart, Flanigan, threw for 229 yards on 14-of-20 passing, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Michael Oliva led the Aggies with 81 receiving yards, while Matt Massari rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown.
“Our offense has a lot of confidence,” Flanigan said. “As long as we get a rhythm going, that’s all we need.”
The Hornets, who have played four of their first five games away from Hornet Stadium, will travel again next week to take on Northern Arizona.
