SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State football team took advantage of a fumble and a blocked punt to pull within seven but could not overcome a slow start in a 35-21 loss to UC Davis in the 62nd Pepsi Causeway Classic on Saturday in front of 10,237 at Hornet Stadium.

After UC Davis (2-9, 2-6) took a 21-0 lead in the first half, the Hornets (2-9, 1-6) started their rally when Austin Clark stripped Joshua Kelley and Elijah Wallace jumped on the fumble. That turnover sparked a 7-play, 31-yard drive which was capped by a 7-yard pass from Nate Ketteringham to Shane Harrison with 8:42 to play in the third quarter.

The Sacramento State defense forced the Aggies to punt on the next drive where Garrett Steele burst through to block the attempt and Tyler Meteer returned the ball 43 yards for a touchdown. The score marked the team's first blocked punt return of the year and pulled the Hornets within seven, 21-14, with 5:20 left in the quarter.

The defense followed that effort with a three-and-out but the offense could not pull any closer. C.J. Spencer found Nehemiah Winston for an 18-yard touchdown to finish a 5-play, 95-yard drive to extend UC Davis' cushion. The Aggies then began the fourth quarter with a grinding drive which ate 7:40 off the clock and ended with a 3-yard run from Kelley to make the score, 35-14.

Sacramento State's final answer came on the ensuing drive where Ketteringham lofted a 26-yard pass to fellow freshman Jaelin Ratliff in the right hand side of the end zone. The Hornets were able to recover the on-side kick but could not convert the drive which saw the team eventually reach the UCD 15-yard line before a penalty and errant snap forced the team into 4th-and-27.

UC Davis scored the game's first points on a 13-yard rush from Spencer up the middle of the field for his first career touchdown midway through the first quarter. He found tight end Atlas Smith for an 8-yard score early in the second quarter and Manusamoa Luuga added a 3-yard TD grab with 1:02 left in the first half.

During the first 30 minutes of the game, UC Davis outgained Sacramento State 282-128 while holding the ball for 19:10 of the half. The Aggies also had 17 first downs in the half compared to eight for the Hornets.

Sacramento State finished the game with 360 yards of total offense. Ketteringham was 28-of-46 for 296 yards and two touchdowns. Shane Harrison had his streak of three consecutive 100-yard games come to a close as he had nine catches for 99 yards. The senior finished the year with eight touchdowns over the final four games of the season. During that stretch, he caught 40 passes for 538 yards.

Defensively, senior Darnell Sankey tallied a game-high 17 tackles but finished the season one stop short of tying Ryland Wickman's school record of 154 which has stood since 1997. Clark had his most productive day as a Hornet with 14 tackles (six solo), including 2.0 tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and recovered an on-side kick.

UC Davis posted a season high 523 yards of total offense. Spencer, who was making his third career start, was 23-of-35 with 312 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Martin caught eight passes for 115 yards and Luuga rushed for a career high 117. Linebacker Brady Stibi led the team with 10 tackles.