Offensive fireworks propel the Aggies to a 3-1 start to the 2025 season
By THEO KAYSER — sports@theaggie.org
On Sept. 27, the UC Davis Aggies’ football team hosted the Weber State Wildcats for their fourth game of the 2025 season. The Aggies’ strong start to the year continued, as they walked away having seized victory in dominant fashion, 34-12.
The Aggies’ high-powered offensive performance began methodically, as the game’s first quarter saw neither team score any points. The first notch on the scoreboard came by way of a Weber State field goal three minutes into the second quarter.
After a scoreless first 23 minutes of the game for the Aggies, the floodgates finally burst after Quarterback Caden Pinnick, a second-year international relations major, reached the endzone on a two-yard goal-line run. After a successful point after touchdown, the score was 7-3 in favor of UC Davis.
The game’s next score came in far more spectacular fashion when Carter Vargas, a second-year undeclared major, found the endzone by way of a 57-yard pass by Pinnick. Before the half concluded, the Aggies would score yet again as Hunter Ridley, a fourth-year communication major, nailed a field goal in the half’s closing moments to secure a two-score lead. The Aggies entered the locker room having scored 17 unanswered points over the course of just seven minutes.
The game’s third quarter more closely resembled the first, with both teams notching one field goal each. The fireworks would only continue upon the start of the fourth quarter, as a trick play saw Defensive Back Rex Connors, a fifth-year human development major, score his first career touchdown. This extended the Aggies’ lead to 27-6, about 90 seconds into the quarter.
Finally, the Aggies’ last score came via more fireworks, this time with the firepower being supplied by Samuel Gbatu Jr., a fourth-year managerial economics major. He connected with Pinnick on an 85-yard score, the longest passing play of the Aggies’ season thus far.
At this point, with nine minutes left to play, the Aggies held a commanding 34-6 lead, leaving Weber State with little hope for victory. While not enough to defeat the Aggies, the Wildcats did manage to score their first and only touchdown of the game with three minutes remaining.
One score would prove to not nearly be enough, and the game concluded with a final score of 34-12, a third victory for the Aggies in their impressive beginning to the season.
Key performances in the game came first and foremost from Pinnick, who finished the game completing 16 of his 27 pass attempts for 288 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Pinnick’s dominant performance through the air came to fruition with the help of the Aggies’ strong receiving core, headlined in this game by Gbatu Jr., who notched a 112-yard performance to go along with a touchdown reception. Vargas and Ian Simpson, a fourth-year sociology major, rounded out the group’s strong evening with 60 and 56 yards, respectively.
The Aggies’ stupendous defensive performance should not go unnoted, either, as their dominance enabled the offense to hold Weber State at bay. Despite forcing zero turnovers in the game, the Aggies’ defense held the Wildcats to just 313 yards, and, of course, 12 points. This was achieved mainly through stifling run defense, as abundant tackles for loss held Weber State to a mere 3.2 average yards per rush.
Jacob Psyk, a graduate student at the UC Davis School of Management, put up the group’s most impressive stat line, registering 2.5 sacks as part of his nine tackles in the game. Through just four games this season, Psyk has collected 4.5 sacks along with two forced fumbles.
After achieving a strong victory for the second week straight, the Aggies will look to continue their season’s momentum when they travel south to face Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Oct. 4.
Written by: Theo Kayser — sports@theaggie.org
