SAN DIEGO -- John Matthews caught 13 passes for 161 yards and the game-clinching touchdown as San Diego beat UC Davis 28-20 Saturday to finish 9-2 for the second consecutive season.
A week after recording a school-record 14 reception for 187 yards and two touchdowns, the leading receiver in Division I FCS snared more than half of Sebastian Trujillo's 25 completions, including a 10-yard touchdown grab that put San Diego up 28-20 with 5:40 remaining. Trujillo and Matthews also connected to convert two fourth-down plays on the game-deciding drive.
Matthews, one of 14 San Diego seniors recognized before the game, closed out his record-breaking season with 1,478 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns.
San Diego (9-2, 6-2 Pioneer League) raced out to a 14-7 lead on a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes by Trujillo, who finished 25 of 40 for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
But UC Davis (5-7, 2-1 Great West Conference) scored 10 unanswered points to take a 17-14 lead into halftime.
San Diego regained the lead on the first drive of the second half when Phil Morelli ran 22 yards for a touchdown on third-and-15. The drive was kept alive when linebacker Mike Morales was called for roughing Trujillo after a third-and-10 incompletion.
Sean Kelley kicked a 32-yard field goal with 11:34 remaining to pull UC Davis to within 21-20, but Matthews heroics on the ensuing drive effectively put the game out of reach.
The Aggies marched to the San Diego 16-yard line on the ensuing drive, but turned the ball over on downs at the 10.
The two teams combined for 887 yards, including 580 in the first half. UC Davis quarterback Greg Denham threw for 434 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Aggies turned the ball over twice deep in San Diego territory, and were penalized 11 times for 94 yards. UC Davis recorded its first-seven loss season since 1969 with its third consecutive loss.