UC Davis Scores 19-17 UPSET Over Tulsa
Sep 3, 2021, 9:18 AM | Updated: 10:05 am
TULSA, Okla. —Junior quarterback Hunter Rodrigues completed 28 of 35 passes for a career-high 311 yards while senior receiver Jared Harrell hauled in eight passes for a career-best 136 yards, leading No. 23/21 UC Davis to a 19-17 upset of Football Bowl Subdivision member Tulsa in non-conference collegiate football action at H.A. Chapman Stadium Thursday night.
Furthermore, linebacker Cole Hansen’s interception and safety Chris Venable’s forced fumble resulted in key Aggie takeaways in the fourth quarter.
The Aggies open the 2021 season with a 1-0 record and their first win over an FBS program since a 44-38 victory at San Jose State in the 2018 season opener.
Hansen picked off a Davis Brin pass attempt and scampered 39 yards to the Tulsa 14 with 9:05 remaining in the fourth, setting up Isaiah Gomez’ game-winning 22-yard field goal. Then on the ensuing Tulsa possession, Venable jarred the ball from receiver Keylon Stokes at the 8-yard line.
The ball rolled through the back of the Aggie end zone for a touchback, ending the Hurricane’s last-ditch chance at regaining the lead.
UC Davis drew first blood in the contest with Rodrigues’ 12-yard touchdown strike to tight end McCallan Castles less than four minutes into the contest. However, a Zack Long field goal at 2:05 in the first and a Steven Anderson 1-yard run just under the 5-minute mark in the second put Tulsa on top by a 10-7 margin.
Rodrigues later found freshman Chaz Davis for his first collegiate reception, putting the Aggies on the Tulsa 30-yard line with less than a minute before halftime, then Ulonzo Gilliam’s run moved the ball three yards closer. This set up a 44-yard field goal by Gomez for the final play of the second quarter, his longest as an Aggie, equalizing the game at 10-10.
UC Davis out-gained its host by a razor-thin 219-218 margin in total offense, with Rodrigues completing 16 of 20 for 181 yards. Gomez briefly boosted the Aggies back to the lead with a career-long 44-yard field goal midway through the third, only to have Tulsa respond with a 59-yard touchdown run by Texas A&M transfer Deneric Prince, giving the Hurricane a 17-13 lead. UC Davis later marched down to set up Gomez’ third field goal of the game, this time for 26 yards at 11:09 in the fourth.
Hansen’s pick halted the Hurricane’s next series and set up the go-ahead Gomez field goal.
