CHENEY, Wash. — Sacramento State rushed for a season-high 385 yards to pull away from Eastern Washington, 52-28, on Saturday at Roos Field.

The fifth-ranked Hornets improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big Sky Conference. The six consecutive wins to start a season matches the school record which was set in 1991, and is the best start in the Div. I era (1993-pres.). The Eagles, who have endured a brutal early season schedule, fell to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in league.

Sacramento State jumped out to a 21-0 lead only to have EWU tie the contest with 21 unanswered points of its own. The Hornets then closed the first half with a pair of touchdowns in the final five minutes and never looked back. The two teams combined for 56 points in the first half as Sacramento State entered the break with a 35-21 lead.

After the Hornet defense forced a 3-and-out on the opening drive of the game, the offense went to work with a methodical touchdown drive. Sacramento State rushed nine times during the series, and the points came on a 1-yard rush from Asher O'Hara.

The Hornets quickly added to that advantage when Brock Mather picked off Gunner Talkington and weaved his way into the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown. The TD was the second pick six for the Hornet defense this season, following Caleb Nelson's 98-yard return in the season opener against Utah Tech.

A wild sequence of events saw the Sacramento State throw an interception of its own and was followed by a big pass play from the Eagles to take the ball deep into Hornet territory. However, EWU had to settle for a field goal attempt which was blocked by Jett Stanley and returned by Cameron Broussard across midfield.

Shortly after, Cameron Skattebo caught a screen pass on the left side of the field, hurdled a defender, juked another, and then ran through a third would-be tackler for a 37-yard touchdown reception. That touchdown gave the Hornets a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 71-7 edge in the opening period this year.

Eastern Washington got on the board with a touchdown on the opening drive of the second quarter. The big play came on a 31-yard strike from Talkington to Jakobie James which took the ball to the 2-yard line. After being stopped on its next two plays, Talkington hit Jett Carpenter for a touchdown in the front right corner of the end zone.

The Eagles kept the momentum by forcing a fumble and then scoring two plays later on a 26-yard pass to Efton Chism. After a forcing a 3-and-out, Eastern Washington drew even on a 15-yard end around from Justin Jackson.

Sacramento State was able to thwart the run with an 8-play, 75-yard drive to move ahead, 28-21. The team had three plays of at least 10 yards during the drive and also drew a pass interference call in the end zone. O'Hara scored his second TD of the game with a 1-yard leap over the pile.

After a defensive stop, the Hornets provided the final points of the first half when Jake Dunniway hit Marshel Martin for an 11-yard touchdown to give the team a 35-21 lead at the break. The 35 first-half points tied Sacramento State's season best which previously came against Utah Tech.

The second half began with the Hornets piecing together a drive which abruptly ended when the Eagles picked off a pass in the end zone. However, EWU gave the ball back when a pass on a fake punt fell incomplete giving Sacramento State the ball at the Eagle 38.

A 28-yard run from Skattebo moved the ball to the 10-yard line before O'Hara scored his third touchdown of the game with a 5-yard scramble. The game marked the second time this season that O'Hara has rushed for three touchdowns, and he now has 11 TD's this season.

Less than two minutes later, Eastern found the end zone again to make it a two-score game, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Kyle Sentkowski converted a 36-yard field goal and Parker Clayton caught an 8-yard TD pass for the only score of the fourth quarter. The Hornets outscored EWU, 17-7, in the second half.

Sacramento State's 385 rushing yards were the third most in the school's Div. I era, and the most since rushing for 392 against Cal Poly in 2000. Skattebo led the way with a career high 201 rushing yards (29 carries, 6.9 yards per tote) while O'Hara added 94 and Elijah Tau-Tolliver had a 57 yards on six carries.

The quarterbacks combined to complete 13-of-19 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Skattebo, Pierre Williams and Marshel Martin tied for the team lead with three receptions.

Armon Bailey paced the Hornet defense with nine tackles, including two for loss and a pass breakup. Fellow linebacker Jeremy Harris had eight stops. Mather had five tackeles (three solos) and a quarterback hit to go along with his pick six.

Sacramento State returns home for its next two games. The first coming on Oct. 22 against Montana. The game will start at 8 p.m. and air nationally on ESPN2.

NOTES:

• The Hornets scored 50 points in consecutive games for the first time in the Div. I era, and first time since 1991 when team defeated UC Davis, 50-18, and Chico State, 63-21, on Oct. 5 and 12.
• O'Hara became the third quarterback in school history to rush for 10 touchdowns in a season. Kevin Thomson holds the record with 12 in 2019 and Ricky Ray rushed for 10 in 2000.
• O'Hara has at least one rushing touchdown in every game this season.
• Martin took sole possession of fourth place in Sacramento State's career history with 18 receiving touchdowns.
• Martin also extended his streak to 30 consecutive games with a reception.
• Dunniway recorded his third career three passing touchdown game, and also moved past current Hornet quarterbacks coach Bobby Fresques with 28 career TD passes.
• Hornets have won every game this season by at least 16 points.