DAVIS, Calif. — The 71^st Causeway Classic was undecided until the final seconds when Sacramento State's 4^th-and-8 pass attempt from the UC Davis 27-yard line fell incomplete to secure a 31-27 Aggie victory.
 
The Hornets overcame a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter to build a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter but could not find the end zone on its final drive. Sacramento State ended its regular season with a 7-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the Big Sky Conference. UC Davis improved its record to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in league games.
 
UC Davis jumped out quickly, capitalizing on short fields to take a 14–0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Running back Jordan Fisher scored both early touchdowns, punching in 1- and 2-yard runs. Sacramento State's struggled to find rhythm in the opening quarter, managing only one first down and 34 total yards.
 
The Hornets roared back in the second quarter behind their punishing ground game. Rodney Hammond, Jr., capped a 15-play, 66-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown, and quarterback Cardell Williams tied the score minutes later with another short plunge following a key fumble recovery and long return by safety Koa Akui.
 
UC Davis retook a 17–14 lead with a 24-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. The Aggies had moved the ball to the Hornet 7-yard line before an incompletion on second down and just a 1-yard rush on third down forced the team to settle for the field goal.
 
Sacramento State dominated the third quarter, showcasing its signature physical rushing attack. Hammond broke free for a 40-yard touchdown to give the Hornets their first lead, but a missed PAT left the score at 20–17. Later in the period, Jamar Curtis, who returned from injury for the first time since week two, capped a methodical 64-yard march with a 1-yard scoring run that extended the advantage to 27–17.
 
UC Davis needed just 27 seconds of the fourth quarter to pull back within a score when Pinnick connected with Fisher on a 3-yard touchdown pass to cut the margin to 27–24. The Aggies retook the lead with 6:14 to play on a 30-yard pass from Pinnick to Samuel Gbatu, Jr. The drive capped a three-play, 61-yard series.
 
Sacramento State's final drive started at its own 14-yard line and the team rode its run game to take the ball deep into UC Davis territory. The Hornets ran the ball on the first 14 plays of the drive and picked up 59 yards behind Hammond, Curtis and Williams. On the final play, Williams rolled to his right but his pass was wide of Ernest Campbell during the ball over on downs with 40 seconds remaining.
 
Sacramento State recorded its fifth 300-yard rushing game of the season, gaining 326 yards on 65 carries (5.0 yards per rush). Hammond led all players with 141 yards and two touchdowns while Curtis picked up 105 yards and a score. The Hornets became the first FCS team since 2019 to have five different 100-yard rushers during a season. The team was just 3-of-9 through the air for 17 yards.
 
The Hornet defense was paced by Koa Akui, Jason Oliver and Anta'Veon McKenzie who each had five tackles.
 
Pinnick completed 24 of 30 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns for UC Davis. Gbatu was his top target with seven catches for 127 yards.
 
NOTES

• Sacramento State set its school single-season record with 39 rushing touchdowns. The previous mark was 36 in 2022.
• Rodney Hammond, Jr. moved into seventh place in Sacramento State single-season history with 1,213 rushing yards during the year.
• Hammond's average of 6.49 yards per rush ranks sixth in the school record book.
• His 1,815 all-purpose yards also moved him into sixth place in school single-season history.
• Hammond's 13 rushing touchdowns are tied for sixth in school history. Cardell Williams moved into a four-way tie for ninth place with 12 rushing touchdowns. His total is the third-most by a quarterback in school history.
• The team's average of 262.6 rushing yards per game shattered the previous record of 243.3 from 2022.
• The Hornets ended the season with 38 sacks which was the third-highest in school history.
• Punter Cal McGough is now three in career average (41.93), fourth in career punt yards (6,332) and sixth in career punts (151).
• Grant Meadors' 51 PATs were the fourth-most in a season by a Hornet.
• Safety Koa Akui played a role in eight turnovers during the season. Akui led the team with five interceptions, recovered a pair of fumbles and also forced a fumble.