Who:

# 16 California-Davis Aggies

Versus

Texas A&M-Commerce Lions

When: Thursday, August 31, 7 PM

Where: Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium

Weather: Sunny & 90 Degrees at Kickoff,

Precipitation: 0%

Humidity: 34%

Wind: 7 mph NNW

Watch/Listen/Stats-

Radio: 88.9 KETR (Commerce) or KETR.org, Charlie Chitwood, (Play by Play) & Brock Callaway (Color/Analysis) via The Lion Sports Network

LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+ | https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/eventCalendarId/401540288 
LIVE STATS: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=473499

Impact Players-

QB Peter Parrish-The former LSU and Memphis Quarterback has taken the reigns as Clint Dolelzel’s man under center. It will be important for him to make the routine play and run the offense in an efficient manner.

WR Keith Miller-The Colorado Transfer came on strong at the end of last year and has really cranked up the production at the wideout position.

DB Max Epps-One of the leaders of the Blue Gang Defensive Unit, He will need to rally his troops and deliver hard hitting disciplined defensive football.

DL Leon Young-An Anchor for the D-Line, Young must lead a concerted effort to put pressure on UC-Davis’s Miles Hastings and make him make throws he would rather not have to make in addition to getting into the backfield.

Kickers Emmanual Adagbon & Aiden Martin-Adagbon’s leg kicking field goals and extra point could come in handy if the Lion offense sputters, while Martin’s kickoffs need to pin the Aggie return team back and not yield good field position.

Storylines: In a meeting of two programs that have not meet each other since the late 1990’s, The UC Davis Aggies come in as one of the top FCS programs in the country. A far cry from many of the season openers the Lions have had to endure in the past, this one comes with a loaded team.

Aggie Head Coach Dan Hawkins and Lion Head Coach Clint Dolezel have a lot in common. Both are coaching at their Alma Mater, both are offensive gurus, both have coached overseas, both have won Championships on their previous levels. The Aggies run a scripted West Coast style offense and will test the Lion defense that was tops in the Southland Conference last year in every category. The Aggies will face the challenge of playing a team that does expect not only to compete but to win this game, and the Lions face a team that is one of the best in the country in the FCS. Something has to break and will break in just under 24 hours. A win for the Lions in Dolezel’s debut would be a cause for celebration and hopefully erase the bitter taste the Lions and their fanbase had from losing the final 4 games of the year and the tumultuous time the Football program had last November and December. They will need to play disciplined football and will need a whole lot to go right Thursday night.