Oct. 18, 2003

Final Stats

DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis scored 10 points in the final two minutes of the first half and added two touchdowns in a 1:09 span of the third quarter to break the game open as the Aggies defeated Western Washington University, 48-19, in college football action before a Homecoming crowd of 7,628 at Toomey Field.

The loss was the third straight for the Vikings, dropping them to 1-6 and meaning Western will finish the season with a losing record for the first time since 1990. It is also the worst start to a season for the Vikings since 1983.

The Aggies, in the first year of a four-year transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA I-AA, improved to 4-2 with their third consecutive victory.

Western trailed just 17-12 after a 14-yard pass from quarterback Steve Nichols (Jr., Stevenson) to wide receiver Matt Wilson (R-Fr., Auburn). But UC Davis quarterback Jon Barragan, who also threw for three touchdowns, ran for a 4-yard score with 1:50 left in the first half, and Dusty Apocotos added a 32-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the period to give the Aggies a 27-12 edge at halftime.

UC Davis then put the game away midway through the third period. Barragan threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nolan deGraaff, and on Western's next series, Nichols was intercepted by Jashaun McCowan, who returned the pick 24 yards, making the score 41-12.

The Aggies had a 578-362 edge in total offense. Barragan completed 19-of-28 passes for 325 yards and also ran for 41 yards. Running back Antar Mahasin added 91 yards on 17 rushing attempts and 64 more on four receptions.

Western's defense forced four turnovers, with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, matching their totals of the first six games, but was unable to take advantage of the UC miscues, getting just three points off them, and only one first down on the four subsequent possessions.

Running back Duncan Sherrard (So., Seattle/Roosevelt) rushed for a game-high 96 yards on 17 carries for the Vikings. Nichols was 11-of-23 for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception. James Monrean (R-Fr., Bellingham/Sehome) replaced Nichols midway through the third period and was 9-of-18 for 120 yards with one touchdown, a 17-yard connection with Brett Upchurch (R-Fr., Bremerton/Central Kitsap) on the final play of the game. The Vikings were 1-of-14 on third down.

"I know we're better than what we've shown," said Western coach Rob Smith. "But we've got to stop saying that and start showing it."

Western scored on the opening series of the game, going 52 yards in nine plays to set up a 32-yard field goal by Michael Koenen (Jr., Ferndale).

The Aggies came right back, moving 80 yards in 10 plays, capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass from Barragan to Billy Zeier, then extended the margin to 10-7 on the following series, as Barragan completed passes of 34 yards to Daniel Fells and 33 yards to Kevin Freeman to set up a 32-yard field goal by Dusty Apocotos.

Two Aggie turnovers gave the Vikings opportunities in the second quarter. Free safety Justin Coronado (Fr., Walla Walla), who was making his first start, intercepted Barragan and returned it 35 yards to the Aggie 25, but Western failed to move the ball and Koenen's field-goal attempt was blocked. On the following series, defensive tackle Nick Ball (Sr., Olympia) recovered a Barragan fumble, leading to a 51-yard field goal by Koenen, three yards short of his own school record. That made the score 10-6 early in the second quarter, but Western got no closer.

It was the seventh consecutive year the schools have met, although they are not slated to meet next season. The Aggies have won all seven matchups, but only two were decided by more than nine points.

Western hosts Central Washington University in the eighth annual Cascade Cup at Civic Stadium on Oct. 25 (1 p.m.). The game is the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener for the Vikings.

GAME SUMMARY
Western Washington    3      9        0       7  --- 19UC Davis             10     17       14       7  ---  48
WWU - Michael Koenen 32 FG, 12:42UCD - Billy Zeier 8 pass from Jon Barragan (Dusty Apocotos kick), 9:33UCD - Dusty Apocotos 35 FG, 3:33WWU - Michael Koenen 51 FG, 11:37UCD - Jon Barragan 4 run (Dusty Apocotos kick), 8:14WWU - Matt Wilson 14 pass from Steve Nichols (pass failed)UCD - Nolan deGraaff 19 pass from Jon Barragan (Dusty Apocotos kick), 1;50UCD - Dusty Apocotos 24 FG, 0:07UCD - Nelson Doris 26 pass from Jon Barragan (Dusty Apocotos kick), 8:17UCD - Jashaun McCowan 24 interception return (Dusty Apocotos kick), 7:08UCD - Ryan Smith 30 pass from Jon Grant (Dusty Apocotos kick), 14:55WWU - Brett Upchurch 17 pass from James Monrean (Michael Koenen kick), 0:00Attendance - 7,628