Box Score SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — For the first time since 1991, the Sacramento State football team is 4-0. The Hornets started Big Sky Conference play with a 49-21 win at Spanos Stadium on Saturday night to earn its 12th straight regular season victory.

Sacramento State, which entered the game ranked fifth in both FCS national polls, has yet to trail this season.

For the fourth time in as many games this season, Sacramento State scored first. The Hornets took a 7-0 lead with 5:41 left in the first quarter on a 2-yard run from Marcus Fulcher. Sacramento State appeared ready to settle for a field goal attempt after throwing an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-goal but the Mustangs were flagged for defensive holding giving the team a new set of downs.

Cameron Skattebo doubled the advantage in the opening minutes of the second quarter with a 4-yard rush up the middle. The Hornets stopped Cal Poly on a fourth down attempt at the Mustang 21 yard line and then traveled 79 yards on eight plays.

Skattebo struck again late in the first half. The running back caught a screen pass behind the line of scrimmage, dodged the first defender and ran through a couple of others for a 16-yard touchdown reception. The shutout in the first half increased the team's total to 31 scoreless quarters and eight halves since the start of last season.

"I think we came out pretty fast on offense and defense and got off to a good start," head coach Troy Taylor said. "It's always good to play with the lead and I'm glad our guys sustained it."

The Hornets then took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 75 yards on nine plays for another touchdown. The drive included an 18-yard rush from Skattebo, a 12-yard completion to Pierre Williams, and 21- and 20-yard strikes to Marshel Martin before Asher O'Hara went over the top of the pile for his seventh rushing touchdown of the season. That score tied O'Hara with Garrett Safron for the second most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in school history with 16.

Following an interception from Makhi Johnson which took the ball to the Hornet 45, the Mustangs got on the board with a 4-yard score from Shakobe Harper out of the wildcat formation. The touchdown was the first rushing score for Cal Poly this season.

The Hornets immediately responded with a series of long plays to match the score. Sacramento State picked up at least nine yards on five plays during the drive, including a 40-yard touchdown pass from O'Hara to Jared Gipson for the longest pass for the team this year.

The offensive fireworks continued when the Mustangs drove 80 yards on 10 plays capped by a diving 28-yard catch from Logan Booher along the left side of the end zone to make the score 35-14 in favor of the Hornets.

It took Sacramento State just 2:24 to find the end zone for the sixth time in the game. Williams fought his way through a defender to bring in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Jake Dunniway. The Hornets needed just seven plays to cover 90 yards during the drive.

Cal Poly again answered with a touchdown of its own. The drive was aided by a 15-yard personal foul against the Hornets and Spencer Brasch found Chris Coleman for a 32-yard completion up the middle of the field on the next play. Adam Garwood then rushed for the final two yards to cut the Hornet lead to 42-21 with 7:35 left.

The Mustangs then attempted an onsides kick which did not travel 10 yards and went to the Hornets. Skattebo took the first play from scrimmage and rumbled 35 yards for his second rushing touchdown and third overall score of the game.

Sacramento State finished the game with 564 yards of total offense. The team rushed for 227 yards and passed for 337. Three Hornets had over 50 rushing yards, led by 84 from Skattebo and 58 from Fulcher. Dunniway completed 16-of-22 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns while O'Hara was 6-for-10 for 91 yards and a TD. Martin had a season-best 90 receiving yards on four grabs. Williams added five catches, for 79 yards and Gipson had four receptions for 65 yards.

Armon Bailey led the Hornet defense for the second week in a row as he had a career high nine tackles, including a sack. Bailey also added a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Prince Washington had seven stops with three PBUs.

Sacramento State will play its first home game since Sept. 3 when it welcomes Northern Colorado to Hornet Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8. The game will kick off at 6 p.m.

NOTES

• After losing five consecutive games at Cal Poly from 2001-15, the Hornets have won three in a row dating back to 2017.
• Marshel Martin extended his streak to 28 consecutive games with a reception.
• Cal Poly's touchdown with 5:54 left in the third quarter snapped a scoreless streak of 70 minutes, 23 seconds by the Hornet defense.
• Sacramento State was flagged for just one penalty for five yards last week at Colorado State, but was called for 12 infractions for 105 yards in tonight's game.
• Dylan Jorge recorded his first career interception and had an 80-yard return late in the fourth quarter.