FRESNO, Calif. — The Sacramento State football team went toe-to-toe with FBS Fresno State before seeing the Bulldogs score 21 fourth-quarter points resulting in a 31-3 loss on Saturday night at Bulldog Stadium.

The loss dropped the Hornets to 0-2 on the season while Fresno State evened its record at 1-1.

The Sacramento State defense was stout through most the game, limiting the Bulldogs to just 10 points and 309 yards of offense through the first three quarters. Fresno State was able to rally in the final period, compiling 165 yards and scoring three touchdowns.

Linbacker Tyler Meteer led the way with 13 total tackles, including three of the team's eight tackles-for-loss. Defensive linemen Ben Sorensen and George Obinna each added sacks and Nick Crouch recorded an interception.

The Sacramento State offense finished with 185 yards of total offense. Sophomore quarterback Nate Ketteringham was 9-for-25 for 89 yards and was picked off twice. Cody Demps, Jordan Robinson and John McGill each caught a pair of passes to tie for the team lead. Demps was the leader with 50 receiving yards.

The ground game was primarily split between Demetrius Warren, Robinson and Quincy Jountti. Warren finished with 27 yards while the other two each had 24. All three had longs of 14 yards.

Fresno State quarterback Chason Virgil was 22-of-42 for 274 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Jamire Jordan had seven catches for 100 yards and Dontel James rushed for 121.

Sacramento State will continue its stretch of three consecutive road games when it plays at Weber State on Saturday, Sept. 17, in a non-league meeting of Big Sky Conference schools.

Quotable

"The kids fought their hearts out and I was extremely proud of them. It looked and sounded like football for about three quarters. We were unable to sustain a drive on offense and we got a little fatigued in the fourth quarter and that ended up being the difference."

Jody Sears, Head Coach

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
1:02 - After the teams traded interceptions near midfield, Fresno State posted the first points of the game with a 7-play, 48-yard touchdown drive. The Bulldogs rushed for 31 yards during the drive including an 8-yard scamper by Dejonte O'Neal for the score.

Second Quarter
7:21 - Kody Kroening converted a 21-yard field goal attempt to make the score 10-0. The Bulldogs did most of their damage on third down during the drive, converting 3rd-and-9 with a pass over the middle and 3rd-and-11 with a draw play. However, after Fresno State had 1st-and-goal from the Hornet 5, the Sacramento State defense made a stand to force the field goal.

0:00 - Sacramento State was forced to punt with just under 30 seconds left in the first half. Nolan Merker's punt bounced off the arm of a Bulldog player and was recovered by Ernest Jenkins at the Fresno State 27. With only six seconds showing on the clock, the Hornets turned to Devon Medeiros who crushed a career-long 44-yard field goal as time expired.

Fourth Quarter
14:26 - After a scoreless third quarter, the Bulldogs made it a two-score game with a 17-yard rush to the right from Dontel James. Virgil completed passes of 10, 17 and 12 yards on the first three plays of the drive setting up the TD rush.

10:45 - Fresno State padded its lead with a 4-yard pass from Virgil to KeeSean Johnson. The drive was set up by a diving interception from Tyquwan Glass at the Sacramento State 42.

5:03 - Johnson added his second touchdown of the quarter on Fresno State's next drive to make the score 31-3.

NOTES

• Cody Demps had a 44-yard reception in the first quarter marking the longest offensive play of the year

• Medeiros' previous long field goal was 31 yards set a week ago.

• In the second quarter, Manny Scott-Anderson was flagged for targeting which comes with an automatic ejection. After video review, the penalty and ejection was overturned.

• Fresno State's longest play of the night was a 31-yard completion to Chad Olsen. However, that play did not earn the Bulldogs a first down as they faced 2nd-and-37. The team ended up punting after being stopped on 3rd-and-6.

• Sacramento State used Nolan Merker, Jaime Medina and Blake Cuzzupoli at punter during the game. Merker was the primary punter with 10 attempts, Medina had two attempts and Cuzzopoli added one.

• Nick Crouch recorded his fourth career interception and had the first turnover of the year for the Hornets when he picked off Chason Virgil at the Frenso State 47 in the first quarter.  

• Ketteringham's streak of five straight games with at least 250 passing yards came to a close.