Game 9 - Aggies 24 - North Dakota State 28

DAVIS, Calif. -- Receiver John Majeski caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Steve Walker with four seconds remaining on Saturday as fifth-ranked North Dakota State overcame a 24-0 halftime deficit for a 28-24 win over UC Davis in a Great West Football Conference game at Toomey Field.

UC Davis, which lost its second straight game in the waning moments, fell to 4-5 overall and finished its league season with a 1-3 record. Senior wide receiver Tony Kays caught 11 passes for 138 yards, tying Charley Enos (1998-2001) for the most career catches with 194.

The Bison improved to 8-1 overall and 2-0 in the GWFC.

Walker threw for 257 yards and a pair of touchdowns while receiver Kole Heckendord had seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown, and running back Kyle Steffes rushed for 111 yards and a score. He also surpassed 1,000 yards for the third consecutive season.

UC Davis quarterback Jon Grant threw for 215 yards in the game and rushed for three touchdowns in the first half as the Aggies took a 24-0 halftime lead. The defense held the Bison to just 119 total yards before halftime, blocking a field goal attempt, recovering a fumble, forcing a three-and-out punt and then stopping the Bison near the goal line at the end of the half.

However, North Dakota State held UC Davis to just 37 total yards in the second half while scoring 14 points in both of the final two quarters. Steffes tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jerimiah Wurzbacher early in the third quarter while Heckendorf caught a 47-yard scoring pass from Walker with 49 seconds left in the period.

Steffes' 4-yard touchdown run midway through the final quarter made it 24-21, setting up the dramatic finish. The Bison took over at their own 23-yard line with 2:28 remaining and converted a pair of long fourth down plays; the first one coming on fourth-and-12 at their own 41 with a 14-yard pass to Heckendorf, and the second on a fourth-and-10 at the Aggies' 45 that went 22 yards from Walker to Majeski to the 23.

Walker later completed a 13-yard pass to the UC Davis 10 with 15 seconds left and after spiking the ball and throwing an incomplete pass, found Majeski for the winning score in the back of the endzone.

It was the second straight heart-breaking defeat for the Aggies, who lost at South Dakota State last weekend after the Jackrabbits' scored with just over a minute remaining in a 22-21 win.

UC Davis dominated the first half on Saturday against North Dakota State as Grant threw for 184 yards and ran for a trio of scores. His first touchdown, a 1-yard plunge midway through the first quarter, capped an opening-game 14-play, 72-yard drive. After Emmanuel Benjamin's 39-yard field goal made it 10-0 early in the second quarter, Grant scored twice more.

His second one-yard score came after defensive end Mike Ng forced a fumble by North Dakota State fullback Tyler Roehl that was recovered by linebacker David Heckman, leading to the five-play, 41-yard touchdown drive. Grant later scored from nine yards out with 5:42 left, making it 24-0. The Aggies took that lead into intermission after a dramatic stop of the Bison on four straight plays in the final moments of the half after North Dakota State had a first down at the 4-yard line. UC Davis stopped Steffes from a yard out to halt the drive.

North Dakota State, however, controlled the second half by forcing UC Davis to punt on four consecutive series after the Aggies went without a punt in the first two quarters. Wurbacher's touchdown reception finished off a 10-play, 74-yard drive to open the third quarter while Heckendorf's long scoring catch came with 49 second left in the third.

UC Davis took over after Steffes' touchdown run made it 24-21 with 7:06 to play, moving the ball into Bison territory at the 45. However, strong safety Craig Dahl intercepted Grant at the 21, leading to North Dakota State's winning drive.

Kays caught at least 10 passes for the seventh time of his career and the second time this season. He also had 10 catches against Montana State in September. His 194 catches tied Enos and are two better than Michael Oliva (1999-2002), who had 192 and was tied for No. 2 on the list with John Shoemaker (1996-99).

"It's frustrating, we have a great team, we just can't put a full game together," said Kays.

Grant rushed three touchdowns for the first time in his career and now has 16 rushing touchdowns as an Aggie.

Linebacker Chris Buck had eight total tackles while strong safety Luis Amaral had seven. Cornerback Adam Cook had six stops and four pass breakups while free safety Jonathan Barsi intercepted a pass for the second straight game.

Linebacker Ramon Humber had nine total tackles to lead the Bison while Dahl had a fumble recovery and an interception. Defensive tackle Justin Frick had a pair of sacks for 14 yards in losses.

UC Davis, which has 36 straight winning seasons, needs to win its final two games in order to keep the streak alive. The Aggies, who have a bye next week, will host Sacramento State in the Causeway Classic on Nov. 18 before hosting the final game at Toomey Field on Nov. 25 when No. 16 San Diego (9-0) visits. Kickoffs for both games are 1:05 p.m.

Recap courtesy UC Davis Sports Information Media Relations

North Dakota State Game: Players Of The Week

• Offense - Tony Kays (WR)
• Defense - Adam Cook (CB)
• Special Teams - Gabe Ellis (P)
• Offensive Scout - Thaddeus Johnson (OL)
• Defensive Scout - Jeff Freeman (DB)

Return to 2006 Game Summaries