UC Davis Football Season Opener Report – August 24, 2025

DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis football kicked off its 2025 campaign yesterday in the FCS Kickoff Classic at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. On national television via ESPN, the No. 7 Aggies built an early advantage and, by the end of the third quarter, held a 23–17 lead over No. 11 Mercer.

Carter Vargas opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run for UC Davis late in the first quarter. In the second quarter, quarterback Caden Pinnick rushed for two touchdowns. He had an eight-yard run and a five-yard keeper. This brought the Aggies’ lead to 21–3. Mercer scored just before halftime with a 33-yard field goal. This made the score 21–6 at the break.

In the third quarter, UC Davis’ defense made a big play. Sophomore defender Jayden Fisher blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for a safety. This pushed the lead to 23–6. Mercer rallied late in the period. Aundre Ison scored on a 69-yard rush. Then, Darian Smith added a one-yard touchdown. This made the score 23–17.

Head coach Tim Plough praised the team’s grit against a ranked opponent. He stressed the need to keep up the momentum in the fourth quarter. The Aggies are back in Davis today. They are getting ready for the home opener on September 20 at UC Davis Health Stadium. They will face Southern Utah.