Football 11/6/2010 4:00:00 PM Christy Kramer, UND Athletic Media Relations

UND suffers 35-16 loss to UC Davis in home, conference finale

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - In its final home game of the 2010 football season, the University of North Dakota ended on the wrong end of a 35-16 final against Great West Conference opponent UC Davis at the Alerus Center.

With the loss, the Fighting Sioux dropped to 3-6 on the season and finished with a 0-4 league record. The Aggies improved to 4-5 overall and 2-1 in the GWC. They will play their conference finale against Cal Poly on Nov. 13.

"All we can do now is go back to work," said head coach Chris Mussman. "We'll come in tomorrow to watch the game film and try to continue to teach the game. Mainly situational stuff, what you can and what you can't do, and try to prepare for Montana.

"I think we're on the right track. If you look out there, there are guys that are making plays and playing hard. When we play at our level and don't make mistakes, I still think we are a pretty potent football team."

The Aggies took a 7-0 lead into the second quarter after Randy Wright hit Stephen Dunstan on a 39-yard pass three minutes into the game. With a pair of field goals by redshirt freshman Zeb Miller, the Sioux cut the lead down to 7-6, but with 53 seconds remaining in the half, UC Davis answered with a 18-yard TD pass from Wright to Sean Creadick to take a 14-6 lead into the lockerroom.

Led by Wright and Creadick, UC Davis amassed 410 total offensive yards - 124 rushing and 286 receiving. Wright was 19-for-28 for 286 yards, including four touchdown passes. Three of those scoring passes landed in the hands of Creadick, who finished with 102 yards on just four receptions.

Minutes into the third quarter and trailing 14-6, UND saw a new face at quarterback as sophomore Marcus Hendrickson stepped in to replace Brent Goska (Jr., Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.). On the fourth play of the drive, the Perham, Minn., native hit Greg Hardin (RFr., WR, Bellevue, Neb.) on a 13-yard pass. Four plays later, Hendrickson saw an opening and made the three-yard run for the first UND touchdown of the afternoon and the first of his career.

"I got the call after the first play of their first drive of the second half," said Hendrickson. "They told me to take a deep breath, calm down, and go out there and do what I need to do.

"I just moved back to quarterback a couple of weeks ago, so it was still a little new. When I got thrown in there I was ready to go. I was excited and ready to make some plays."

Hendrickson finished 6-for-17 for 63 yards. He also added 11 yards rushing on eight attempts. Goska was 9-for-14 for 60 yards and led the team with 62 yards rushing on six carries.

With the Sioux close on their heels, the Aggies changed their 14-13 third quarter lead to a 21-13 advantage on the ensuing drive. The six-play, 80-yard drive was highlighted and capped by a 50-yard pass from Wright to Creadick. Unable to reach the end zone, the Sioux answered with a 24-yard field goal from Miller, but UC Davis sealed the win with and fumble recovery in the end zone and another Wright-to-Creadick touchdown pass.

UND was held to 298 yards of total offense - 142 yards rushing and 156 yards passing. Hardin led the receivers with 63 yards on four receptions.

The Sioux defense was led by senior linebacker Curtis Dublanko (Thorsby, Alberta), who finished with a career-high 10 unassisted tackles. Defensive back Kris Ankenbauer (Sr., Murphy, Texas) landed seven stops (six solo) and both Ryan Kasowski (Sr., LB, Grand Forks, N.D.) and Dan Hendrickson (Jr., LB, Minot, N.D.) finished with six tackles apiece.

Junior linebacker Mitch Goertz (Rothschild, Wis.) led the team with one quarterback sack. Hendrickson and sophomore Ross Brenneman (DL, Omaha, Neb.) teamed up for a sack in the third quarter. Redshirt freshman Chris Hall (Jacksonville, Fla.) nabbed his second interception in as many games.

With eight tackles (all solo) and an interception, Dozie Amajoyi led UC Davis on defense. Both Brock Galvin and Jeff Freeman were credited with fumble recoveries. Galvin's gave the Aggies six points in the third quarter.

Next weekend, North Dakota travels to Missoula, Mont., to face Big Sky member Montana. Kickoff between the Sioux and the Grizzlies is set for 1:05 p.m. (central).

GAME NOTES: During halftime of today's game, the parents of UND's 13 seniors- DB Kris Ankenbauer, OL Matt Bakke, DL Ty Boyle, LB Ross Cochran, WR Jarrel Davis, WR Ryan Dressler, LB Curtis Dublanko, LB Paul German, LB Ryan Kasowski, QB Jake Landry, OL Keith Queoff, OL Creighton Schroyer, and DB Joel Schwenzfeier - were recognized on the field ... Captains: Jake Landry, Ryan Kasowski, Keith Queoff, and Ryan Dressler ... Attendance: 6,633 ... Announced today at halftime, the 2010 Sioux Strong campaign raised over $30,000. All funds raised will go toward the Altru Cancer Center's effort to raise Breast Cancer Awareness in the greater Grand Forks Area ... College football games this weekend will mark the 141st anniversary of the first collegiate game played and the seventh annual National College Football Day. On Nov. 6, 1869, Rutgers defeated Princeton 6-4 to mark the first collegiate football game in our nation's history ... Series history against UC Davis since 2001: the teams are tied at 2-2 overall, 1-1 in Grand Forks, and UND trails 0-2 in Davis, Calif. ... UND is 8-5-1 all-time when playing on the Nov. 6. The Sioux are 4-2 at home and 4-4-1 on the road and have defeated their opponents by an average score of 18-12 ... With the loss to UC Davis (Nov. 6), head coach Chris Mussman's career record shifted to 15-15 (.500), his conference record dropped to 3-8 (.273), and his record against non-conference remained at 12-7 (.632) ... All-time, the Fighting Sioux are 605-364-30 (.606) on the gridiron ... The ??Nov. 13 game at Montana will mark the 1,000th football game in UND history.???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????