Quarterback Nick Owens went 9 of 16 for 81 yards. He was sacked twice. Terrell Watson is carrying the ball in the background. (Photo courtesy of Ken Williams)
(Davis,CA)- The excitement was legit, understandable, but 4:27 into the first quarter Azusa Pacific University knew it was playing a team from another level. UC Davis went 74-yards to paydirt on its first drive and cruised to a 41-3 victory over APU on Thursday night in the season opener for both schools.
The Cougars, playing their first D-IAA opponent since 2007 and without NFL prospect Luke Marquardt at left tackle (nursing a leg injury), quickly found themselves outmatched in the trenches.
Starting the contest at its 26, Davis covered 74 yards in 9-plays. Quarterback Randy Wright went four for four on the drive with key completions to Alex Cannon and Anthony Soto to set up fullback Dalton Turay’s 3-yard scoring run. The drive was also aided by a pass interference penalty on a third and two from the Cougar 13.
On the other side of the ball APU went three and out on its first, second, third, and fourth possessions.
The Aggies continued to grow their lead. Wright went 37-yards to tight end Taylor Sloat and Brady Stuart added a pair of field goals to build the advantage to 20-0 in the second quarter.
The Cougars, on their fifth drive with 8:31 to play in the half, found some traction. Tailback Terrell Watson broke off a 32-yard run. Two plays later Watson converted a Nick Owens pass into 23-yards and a first down at the Davis 28. On a third and 10 Watson took another Owens pass 15-yards to the Aggie 13. Here the march stalled and Jamie Cacciatore salvaged three points with a 31-yard field goal.
Colton Silveria’s 4-yard run with 52 seconds left in the second made the score 27-3 in favor of Davis at the break. They would add scores in the third and fourth quarter to finish out the scoring.
For APU Watson was the bulk of the offense rushing for 146 yards on 17 carries.
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