Both sides of the ball had positive moments, with the offense finding pay dirt several times throughout the scrimmage while navigating several defensive takeaways at the University of California, Davis’ football camp. Photo courtesy of UC Davis Athletics

DAVIS, CA (MPG) - It sounded a lot like football season at University of California, Davis Health Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 3 when No. 11 UC Davis football strapped it up and welcomed officials to Shredville for the first full scrimmage of fall camp under clear skies and the California sun.

It was the first time at this camp that the Aggies truly went at each other without restrictions and under the rules of the game. Both sides of the ball had positive moments, with the offense finding pay dirt several times throughout the scrimmage while navigating several defensive takeaways.

“The first thing we look at after a day like this is did we get through it healthy and I’m pretty sure we did that,” said head coach Tim Plough. “We did a good job today of taking care of each other while still having a physical practice. I was happy with all three phases of the game, including the communication and the lack of penalties. We were very clean today, which is good.

“We ran the ball well and converted on first downs all day long, driving consistently all day. And on defense, I thought that we tackled well and showed that we can put pressure on the quarterback. It was also good to see the defense not give up a lot of explosive plays,” Plough said. “I also thought Hunter [Ridley] had a great day, hitting a bunch of kicks for us. That’s the great thing about having a kicker like Hunter; he can come in there and bang one through for us anywhere. Overall, I thought we had a really good day.”

Ridley, a preseason All-American, nailed each of his kicks from different hash marks and distances throughout the practice, making sure the offense came away with points each opportunity he had. While under center the quarterback play of Grant Harper, Caden Pinnick and Treynor Cleeland have shown that the Aggie offense should be in position to not miss a beat despite the need to replace that spot.

Up front, the physicality on both sides of the ball has been on display during camp, as the additions on the defensive side of the ball have made great strides. Offensively, the Aggies return all five starters on the line and on the defensive side the additions of transfer All-American Jacob Psyk and All-Ivy Leaguer Derrell Smith-Porter have made it so the battles in the trenches have been a must-watch throughout camp.

UC Davis opens 2025 on Aug. 23 in Montgomery, Alabama, when they face No. 12 Mercer in the 2025 FCS Kickoff Classic. That game is set to kick off at 4 p.m. Pacific Time and will be aired on ESPN. The Aggies open UC Davis Health Stadium on Sept. 20 when Southern Utah visits Davis for a 7 p.m. kick.

Season tickets are on sale now and fans can visit https://ucdavisaggies.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS:UCD:FB2526:FBSEA:&l... to secure their spot in Shredville for the 2025 season. Tickets start at $100 for new alumni and $140 for the general public.

Football group ticket discounts start at 10 or more tickets and provide a great opportunity for gatherings and parties to enjoy Aggie football. The Aggie Ticket Office can help fans customize their day at https://ucdavisaggies.evenue.net/events/FBS to purchase their group ticket packages.

Mini Plans are a great way for Aggie fans to save on tickets by bundling multiple games. Choose from two options to get the biggest bang for your buck and pick the games that work the best for you. The Pick Any 2 or Pick Any 3 Plans allow fans to pick and choose which games they want to attend at a discounted rate versus buying single-game tickets. Both plans can be purchased at https://ucdavisaggies.evenue.net/events/FBPACK.

Single-game tickets are also on sale and fans can secure their spot at any of the five home games for as little as $13 a ticket. Visit https://ucdavisaggies.evenue.net/events/FBS to buy single-game tickets.