Box Score DAVIS, CA--California-Davis unleashed a devastating passing attack and played solid defense in handing North Dakota State its first loss of the season here Saturday night in 95-degree heat, 35-7.
The Aggies completed 22 of 31 passes for 306 yards and four TDs in the air including a big day from 6-5 junior quarterback Ryan Flanigan. Flanigan completed 20 of 28 aerials including 10 straight completions to open the game in accounting for 230 yards and three TDs.
UC-D opened scoring with a 10-yard TD strike from Flanigan to All-American wide receiver Michael Oliva after a 46-yard punt return by Glenn Adriatico to the Bison 12 gave the Aggies the short field on their first possession.
Flanigan fired another strike to Oliva of 14 yards on the next possession to up the margin to 14-0. Cal-Davis added two more TDs in the second quarter on a Flanigan TD pass of 24 yards to O.J. Swanigan and a trick play that had wide receiver Michael Eaglin heaving a 46-yard TD aerial to tight end Grant Saysette.
NDSU only advanced into Cal-Davis territory once in the first 12 possessions but finally struck paydirt in the 13th. Senior quarteback Graig Gorder marched the Herd 68 yards in 11 plays and took it in from six yards out on a scramble with 7:27 left in the game.
UC-D piled up 446 yards of total offense but scored just once in the second half, that on a one-yard run by Matt Massari to cap a 45-yard drive after NDSU failed to come up with the ball on an onsides kick after the Bison score.
NDSU had 207 yards of total offense including 120 in the air on the strength of a 14-40 passing day for Gorder. The Bison totalled just 87 yards rushing including 48 yards on 10 carries by Keontay Jackson.
The win upped Cal-Davis' record to 2-1 while NDSU slipped to 1-1. The Bison return home to host Augustana College to open North Central Conference play next Saturday, Sept. 28.