MOSCOW, Idaho – Gevani McCoy was 29-40 for a career-high 344 yards and two touchdowns, he also ran for two more, but the Vandal defense couldn't stop the UC Davis offense and the Aggies topped Idaho 44-26 Saturday in the Kibbie Dome.
UC Davis came out punching and scored on their opening drive in just 1:22 and never let up, building a 31-7 first half lead with the lone Vandal Touchdown a 12-yard scramble by McCoy late in the first quarter.
Idaho battled back in the third quarter with McCoy finding
Hayden Hatten for an 18-yard touchdown and a five-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 31-19. UC Davis responded with a field goal and a touchdown to put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter.
McCoy scrambled in for a four-yard TD with 4:14 remaining, but an onside kick attempt was gathered by Aggie kick coverage team and UCD added a field goal in the ensuing possession to extend the lead to 44-26, which held for the final score.
Ulonzo Gilliam rushed the ball 30 times for 164 yards and three touchdowns. While UC QB Miles Hastings was 16-19 for 206 yards in the game.
Idaho outgained the Aggies 461-457 and had two more first downs (27-25), but UC Davis took advantage of good field position and scored on drives of 26, 34 and 25 yards.
Hatten had another outstanding game, with a career-high 13 receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns. He is tied with Jerry Hendren (1968) for the Idaho single-season touchdown reception record at 14.
He has scored all of his touchdowns in the last six games. He now has 1,851 career yards, just 69 yards short of cracking the Idaho career Top-10. He is now tied with Lee Allen for third all-time on the Idaho career-touchdown reception list.
Jermaine Jackson also passed century mark with seven catches for 117 yards. Anthony Woods led all Vandal rushers with eight carries for 44 yards.
McCoy set new career marks with 36 yards rushing, two rushing touchowns, 39 passing attempts, 28 completions 28 and 346 yards 346. It is the first 300-yard passing game of his career.
The loss puts Idaho at 6-4 on the year with one regular-season game remaining. The Vandals are now in the mix of several teams on the playoff bubble with one week to play. Idaho needs a win over Idaho State in the Battle of the Domes to hit the critical seven-win benchmark that the playoff committee likes to see. UC Davis now moves to 6-4 and joins the Vandals on the bubble with a road game at No. 2 Sacramento State for the Causeway Classic.
