Hillsboro, OR – Second-ranked Sacramento State flexed its muscles on Friday night as it continued its bid for another Big Sky Championship and a shot at the number-one seed in the FCS playoffs. The Hornets took advantage of some early mistakes by Portland State and ran away with a 45-17 victory.
The Hornets are a perfect 10-0, 7-0 in the Big Sky and have not lost a Big Sky game since 2019, winning 18 in a row.
The Vikings saw their two-game winning streak erased and dropped to 4-6 on the season, 3-4 in the Big Sky.
Sacramento State, the nation's third-highest scoring team, got an early lead following a PSU turnover and never looked back. The Hornets had 451 yards of total offense, balancing 237 rushing yards and 214 passing yards. The Vikings finished with 367 yards, including 222 on the ground.
"Sac State is clicking on all cylinders, playing well," said Viking Coach
Bruce Barnum. "When you play a team like that you can't make mistakes. You have to be on your game. It was a disappointing start."
The first quarter included four fumbles, two by each team, but the Hornets only lost one. The Vikings second came on their second series and was recovered by the Hornets at the PSU eight-yard line. Sacramento State needed only three plays to score and led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Hornets drove to the PSU 12 early in the second quarter, but sacks by Vikings'
Kennedy Freeman and
EJ Ane pushed them back. Sacramento State settled for a 41-yard field goal and led 10-0 with 13:33 to go in the half. Meanwhile the Vikings struggled to get going on offense.
"They did everything right. We had some drops, some missed protections up front, it was a sloppy offensive game for us in the first half. Against Sac State, that was magnified," said Barnum.
Later in the quarter, the Hornets went on an 80-yard scoring drive. Pierre Williams caught his second touchdown pass of the game and the Vikings trailed 17-0.
Following a quick three-and-out by the Vikings, the Hornets added one more touchdown before halftime and led 24-0 at the break. Sacramento State had out-gained the Vikings 277-90 in the half.
Portland State finally got on the board at the 6:12 mark of the third quarter on a 32-yard field goal by
Gianni Smith. By then, the Hornets led 31-3.
Backup quarterback Nate West took over in the second half for the Vikings. He drove the Vikings 55 yards for a field goal, then 74 yards before PSU turned it over on downs at the Sacramento State 1.
The Vikings finally got a touchdown when freshman
Quincy Craig burst through the line on a 36-yard score. It was the first of his PSU career and came two plays after an Ane fumble recovery.
Later in the fourth quarter,
Jobi Malary scored on a 54-yard jaunt.
The Vikings out-gained the Hornets 277-174 in the second half. Most came on the ground as Craig carried 15 times for 107 yards. Malary had eight carries for 78 yards.
Linebacker
Parker McKenna, playing in his first game in two months, led the Vikings with seven tackles and forced a fumble.
Cameron Skattebo, the Big Sky's leading rusher, had 104 yards on nine carries. Williams caught seven passes for 136 yards and two scores.
GAME NOTES
- Nate Bennett led the receiving corps with five catches for 69 yards.
- EJ Ane had a sack and a fumble recovery for the Vikings. It was his team-leading seventh sack of the season. Also recovering fumbles were Tyreese Shakir and Moses Finau.
- Gianni Smith is now 5-6 on field goals this season, 10-14 in his career.
- Due to the Big Sky Conference's unbalanced schedule, this marked the first time Sacramento State has played at Portland State since 2013.
- Portland State will conclude its season next Saturday night as the Vikings travel to play at Cal Poly. The game kicks off at 5 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.
