One of the biggest stories in the FCS this year has been the ascent of the UC Davis football program. With two games left on the regular-season schedule and a spot in the FCS Playoffs unofficially secured, the Aggies are 8-1 and have won more games so far in 2018 than they won in 2014-16 combined, when many of their players were just coming into the program as freshmen.
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The football culture has changed at UC Davis. The school has always had a stellar academic reputation, and now it also has a budding gridiron reputation to go along with it. It's explosive fourth quarter rally for a win in front of 24,000 stunned Montana fans a few weeks back will be a big memory for the current players and staff, as will the win at FBS San Jose State — and holding a lead on the Pac 12's Stanford going into the second quarter might be a glimpse into what may come. The program also ranked No. 13 with its 2019 FCS recruiting class at the end of November, showing this "fun" shouldn't be ending any time soon.
Even with all of these accolades — the biggest game of the season lies on the road, this weekend, in Cheney, Wash. The Aggies (8-1, 6-0) need to beat Eastern Washington (7-2, 5-1 in the Big Sky) this weekend and then Sacramento State (2-7, 0-6) to officially lock up the Big Sky Championship, automatic playoff berth and a high seed in the FCS Playoffs. While there have been some wonderful milestones this year, nobody has closed the history book just yet and the ink is still drying.
There is much more to be written.
Quarterback Jake Maier is making his case to be in Frisco, Texas for A) The FCS Title game and B) The Walter Payton Award (the FCS' Heisman). The stud signal caller has thrown for 27 touchdowns and only 4 INTs, completes 64-percent of his passes and has thrown for 2,714 yards. Last year's Walter Payton Award finalist, WR and big-time NFL prospect Keelan Doss, has caught 79 balls for 779 yards and 7 TDs. He had an impressive showing in the Stanford game, which will likely only help his draft stock. RB Ulonzo Gilliam, TE Wesley Preece, destructive LB Mason Moe (15.5 TFLs, 3 INTs), DB Vincent White (14 PBUs) and on and on and on … there are many stars in this Aggie sky.
We were able to catch up with UC Davis head coach Dan Hawkins — himself an Aggies alum — and talked about the season, his players, and some of the incredible career stops he has had.
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MCLAUGHLIN: FCS Records And Top Performances – 2018
