. . . Saturday afternoon at Jim Sochor Field, ideal conditions for a Big Sky Conference opener between storied programs. And it was festive with 10,011 packed in, including kids chasing down Frisbees, footballs and smaller siblings on the berms just beyond the goal posts. But when those grassy pursuits trump some of the action on the field, it’s a bad look and feel for UC Davis.
Dalton Sneed sparkled in his quarterback duel with Jake Maier as Montana (4-1) moved to 8-1 all time against UCD, including 4-0 in Yolo County since 1995. UCD is 3-2 this season, having lost last week at FCS No. 1 North Dakota State 27-16. A senior from Scottsdale, Arizona, Sneed passed for 268 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions as he continues his strong play a year after earning Big Sky Newcomer of the Year accolades. Meier, a third-year starter soaring up the UCD career lists, passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns. His 69 career touchdowns are second in program history, trailing J.T. O’Sullivan. But Maier doesn’t play defense, and the Aggies allowed a season-high 528 yards.
“Credit to Montana,” UCD coach Dan Hawkins said. “They out coached us, out played us, energized us. Today was tough. It’s a good learning experience. We’ll come back with resolve.” UCD, winners of the Big Sky last season, plays at North Dakota on Saturday. Sneed initially attended UNLV to play for coach Bobby Hauck, but wound up at a community college in Kansas before Hauck brought him to Montana.
Keali'i Ah Yat on the off-season & upcoming youth camp