Both of those calls were blatantly wrong.

Great post, Howard.

Article about Zak Rachow from the San Diego Union-Tribune:

Flattening an Opponent is the Next Best Thing to Touching the Football for Mustangs Blocker Zak
Rachow




By STEVE BRAND
AUG. 13, 2019 7:48 PM

CHULA VISTA — Running backs, receivers, even quarterbacks can celebrate when they score a touchdown.
What about linemen?

“Pancake blocks are our TDs,” said Otay Ranch High center-turned-tackle Zak Rachow. “Every time we go to the line, we’re thinking of putting the guy opposite us on his back. First you have to make sure you make a hole for the running back, but you want to drive the opponent back, too.

“While backs get to celebrate when they score, we celebrate, too, when we make a pancake block. Officials are watching the guy score a TD, but because we’re there in the middle of the line we can get away with a few things. But once you get that pancake block, it’s good to just help your opponent up."

Read more here: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/story/2019-08-13/otay-ranch-lineman-has-good-reason-to-cheer-zak-rachow

New Aggie commit: Zak Rachow 6'8 240 lbs center, tackle from Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista, CA. 3.96 GPA. He also had an offer from San Diego.

Davis High is on roll right now too with their best team in 25 years. They won the Delta League Championship this year after being 0-10 two years ago and won their first round playoff game last night and are now 10-1 while advancing to the second round of the playoffs. I wonder if there are any potential Aggies on the team?

As you stated, it's not easy to play in such a dismal environment. Add in some drizzle, fog and cold and it gets even worse. SUU is another venue that can be a potential letdown environment for the visiting team. I was worried about how the Ags would respond to the conditions at PSU but they certainly came mentally ready to play. I think the additional week of rest and time to prepare must have helped us as well.

The hold against Eaton that you mentioned was so blatant that I yelled about it immediately and I was just watching the game on my computer... my wife promptly closed the door to the den on me then! The game would have been a much bigger blowout if we would not have dropped those big gainer passes and if the ball would have bounced our way on a couple of the 6 fumbles we forced. What are the odds that a team will fumble 6 times in a game and only lose one of them?

I hope we can carry the momentum into the Montana State game on Saturday. Hopefully, we'll have a great crowd too since will be senior day as well.

Gilliam's 242 yards rushing is the 5th most yards in a game in Aggie history.

Defensively, Fr LB Nick Eaton had a monster game: 8 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Also, Sr Brandon Jamison had 5 tackles, 2 TFL and 2 sacks and Fr Josiah Suani had 4 tackles and 2 TFL.

Santa Barbara beat CSUN 2-0 so the Ags will host the Gauchos for the Big West Tournament Title next Friday at 2 pm. Tickets are available now. I hope we get a great crowd out to cheer on the Aggies!

Great photo gallery of today's game here:

https://ucdavisaggies.com/galleries/?gallery=257

And while you're reading...the Aggie Men's Soccer Team beat Fullerton today 2-0 to advance to the Big West Tournament Title Game.

45-28 Aggies final. Sweet win for this team!

Ags: 649 yards of offense

Jake: 27-38 for 383 yds 4 TD's and 1 INT
Babb II: 10 receptions for 183 yds and 3 TD's
Vaughn: 5 receptions for 121 and 1 TD
Gilliam: 29 carries for 242 yards and 2 TD's...including a 75 yd TD run

Vikings score again. 31-28 Ags with 8:33 to go. We need to score.

7-0 Ags after the 1st quarter. 3 dropped passes that would have been big gainers and one pick...not great...

It's interesting that both the men and the women weren't ready to really get after with energy and intensity in their first games. The KDVS announcer, Greg Wong, said he'd never seen Jen Gross as "animated" as she was with her team near the end of the first half and early in the third. I think the team got the message...

Ags lose 77-65. Nice comeback from 28 down to get within 8 in the second half after a miserable first half.

Well that was a complete mess of a half of basketball. Sloppy on offense and essentially no defense. Ags down 48-28 at the half.

Ags down 25-12 with 8:40 to go in the 2nd.

Ragged first quarter for the Aggies and they trail 19-12. 5 TO's and shooting 30%.

Pluto TV is terrible...cuts away and hangs up a lot...

It would be nice to have another Morgan at some point! Our 3 post players this year are very different from Morgan though and Jen will need to find a way to play to their strengths. None of them are as agile and mobile as Morgan was. She was exceptionally quick especially with her spin moves and could score with either hand. Jen and her staff have a history of developing good post players though so it will be fun to watch our posts grow.