Zach Jones is not asking for much at UC Davis. All the redshirt junior wants is for anything he does after catching a pass, punt or kickoff to count. His two punt returns for touchdowns counted for the Aggies last Saturday in a 45-7 win against Stetson. And so does his Big Sky Conference award. 

Jones was named Monday as the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week. UC Davis swept the three weekly awards for the second time in 15 seasons as a Big Sky member. Wide receiver Sam Gbatu Jr. was honored on offense and linebacker Porter Connors on defense for the Aggies.

UC Davis could use a few more big plays from Jones on Saturday in its Big Sky showdown against Montana. Not only are the Grizzlies ranked in the top five of both FCS polls, but they are also 5-0 in Davis. The Aggies are ranked ninth in the FCS coaches poll and 10th in the Stats Perform Top 25.

Montana will finish the regular season as it always does by playing top-ranked Montana State. That  game in Bozeman on Nov. 21 could be for the Big Sky championship unless UC Davis knocks off Montana. The Aggies have the good fortune of not having to play the Bobcats, who won their second FCS national championship in 2025.

Three teams can share the championship without two of the teams having played each other. UC Davis shared it in 2018 with Eastern Washington and Weber State after not playing Weber State and losing to Eastern Washington. A loss to Northern Arizona cost Weber State the outright crown.

UC Davis should win its seven remaining Big Sky games, but nothing is ever easy. UC Davis was favored by 25.5 points at Portland State on Aug. 29 and trailed 21-0 at halftime. Jones helped shift momentum for the Aggies in the dramatic 31-24 victory even though his contribution did not count.

Portland State punter Joshua Hossman Lees gave UC Davis its first two points by mishandling a snap and kicking the ball out of the end zone for a safety. Jones returned the ensuing free kick 87 yards for a touchdown, but a blocking penalty wiped it out and made the Aggies retreat to their 40. 

Jones lost a highlight clip in the third quarter, but his return was a bolt of electricity for the Aggies. UC Davis reached the end zone twice in the third quarter to trail 21-16. Redshirt freshman Treynor Cleeland threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, the second with 27 seconds to play.

Cleeland has thrown nine touchdown passes in four games and Jones has not been on the receiving end of one. Jones scored on five of his 15 receptions in 2025, but he did not catch a pass in five games and had one reception in four. Jones did not return a single punt in 13 games. 

That was then. Jones is now the first player in UC Davis history to return two punts for touchdowns in a game. He is the FCS leader in punt return average at 32.7 yards. Jones is averaging 27 yards on five kickoff returns. His average would be 37.0 if his 87-yard dash at Portland State counted. 

Head coach Tim Plough figured Jones was ready to bust loose and Jones did with a 79-yard return in the second quarter and a 61-yarder in the third. “We have a very electric returner that’s been itching for his time,” Plough said. “For him to have this moment and to see the smile on his face, it made the whole team feel great.”

Jones did not think of looking back after his touchdown returns to see if a yellow flag had been thrown. “I believe I always have a chance to break a return because my boys are going to do their job,” Jones said. “I just trust my boys. If I believe in them, I know they’re going to believe in me.”