While most college teams are easing into the New Year, Saint Mary’s is active and playing league games.

Saturday the Gaels traveled to UC Davis and came away with a convincing 97-0 victory. This follows up on an early 93-0 conference win over Santa Clara, putting Saint Mary’s at 2-0 in the California Conference when most teams in the West haven’t started playing.

Worrying news, though, came with the result, as freshman loose forward Miles McCormick, who scored five tries against Santa Clara in December, left the first injured only 12 minutes into Saturday’s game.

By then, the Gaels wee already up 12-0 thanks to tries from fullback Edward King and lock Chase Jones, with Derek Ellingson converting the second effort. Ellingson went on to add another seven conversions before being subbed off with 18 minutes to go. 

Saint Mary’s prop Payton Telea Ilalio touched down twice in quick succession in the first half, and Jones added a try also, before the Gaels put over win Erich Storti and lock Angelo Aguire.

That made it 45-0 at halftime and Saint Mary’s didn’t change much in the second period.

Flanker Kaipono Kayoshi, and scrumhalf Tom Brusati scored tries before center Jonathon Hackett added two within the space of a few minutes.

Wing Will Devine, and then Storti twice more, with freshman flyhalf Karl Keane converting, finished it off 97-0.

This Saint Mary’s side included several veterans but also a few newer players. Regular captain and vice captain Aaron Matthews and Ronan Murphy did not suit up and neither did All American Tavite Lopeti or previous HS All American Inoke Waqavesi.

It’s early days for UC Davis, and the Aggies have plenty of opportunity to rebound as the conference season progresses. Saint Mary’s faces UC Santa Barbara next week while also going on tour to Japan.