A BRIEF PREVIEW
- With a school record 10-straight wins to start the season and an FCS playoff berth all but guaranteed, the only thing standing in the way of a perfect regular season for the Sacramento State football team is rival UC Davis in the 68th Causeway Classic on Saturday, Nov. 19. The game will kick off from Hornet Stadium at 2 p.m.
- The Hornets improved to 10-0 overall and 7-0 in Big Sky Conference play with a convincing 45-17 win at Portland State last Friday night. Sacramento State held a 24-0 lead at halftime and had seven plays of 35 yards or longer during the game.
- Sacramento State remains second in the Stats Perform media poll and second in the AFCA FCS coaches poll. The Hornets have been ranked in the top 10 in each poll since the preseason.
- Hornet fans can tune in to ESPN 1320 AM to hear the radio call of Jason Ross, Steve McElroy and Danny Sullivan. Live audio streaming is also available via www.hornetsports.com and the Audacy app.
- The game will also be shown locally on CW31 and streamed on ESPN+. Dave Lewis will handle the play-by-play and will be joined by Darren Arbet for analysis and KOVR-13's Sara Hodges on the sideline.
OPPONENT PREVIEW: UC DAVIS
- After losing four of its first five games against one of the most difficult schedules in the FCS, UC Davis has become one of the hottest teams in the country as it has won five consecutive games to improve its record to 6-4 overall and 6-2 in league games. A win on Saturday would be the team's seventh against FCS competition this season and would give the Aggies a good shot of earning an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs.
- Most recently, the Aggies never trailed in a 44-26 victory at Idaho. That performance marked the fifth straight game the team has scored at least 40 points. UCD is averaging 50.5 points in its six wins and 17.8 in its four losses.
- Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr., headlines the high-powered Aggie offense with 1,132 rushing yards and 12 scores. He also leads the team with 48 receptions and ranks second with 345 receiving yards. Miles Hastings has been the team's primary quarterback this season and has completed 71.0 percent of his passes for 2,741 yards and 19 touchdowns with just five interceptions.
- The defense is led by freshman Rex Connors who has 81 total tackles and four interceptions. Zach Kennedy is the biggest threat in the backfield with 8.5 TFLs and 4.0 sacks.
- Dan Hawkins is in his fifth season as the head coach at his alma mater. Hawkins has a 37-26 overall record with the team and has taken the Aggies to the FCS playoffs twice.
SENIOR SEND OFF
- Prior to the start of Saturday's game, Sacramento State will recognize 16 seniors who will be appearing at Hornet Stadium for the final time in a regular season game.
- Among the group are six players (Isaiah Cappocia, Marte Mapu, Abel Ordaz, Killian Rosko, Brandon Weldon, Pierre Williams) who have spent their entire collegiate career at Sacramento State. On the other side, Paul Sogialofa is in first season with the Hornets.
- The senior class includes six players who have earned all-Big Sky honors, including three who have been first team selections. Wide receiver Pierre Williams was a first team choice in 2019 and 2021. In 2021 he was joined by quarterback Asher O'Hara (all-purpose) and kicker Kyle Sentkowski. That same season, nickelback Marte Mapu and offensive linemen Brandon Weldon were selected to the second team and quarterback Jake Dunniway earned third team honors.
- Twelve members of the class have already earned their bachelor's degree from Sacramento State.
Below is a complete list of the 2022 senior class:
No.   Name   Pos.   Hometown
13Â Â Â
Isaiah Capoocia   NB   Lakeside, Calif.
12Â Â Â
Jake Dunniway   QB   Tracy, Calif.
9Â Â Â
Eric Fellenzer   K/P   Laguna Niguel, Calif.
53Â Â Â
Justin Houlihan   LB   Grass Valley, Calif.
51Â Â Â
Don Long   OL   Norco, Calif.
5Â Â Â
Marte Mapu   NB   Hawthorne, Calif.
23Â Â Â
Kainalu Martin   NB   San Francisco, Calif.
34Â Â Â
Ariel Ngata   DE   Reno, Nev.
10Â Â Â
Asher O'Hara   QB   Rolling Meadows, Ill.
20Â Â Â
Abel Ordaz   S   Brentwood, Calif.
40Â Â Â
Killian Rosko   DE   Sonora, Calif.
98Â Â Â
Kyle Sentkowski   K   Blaine, Wash.
50Â Â Â
Paul Sogialofa   OL   Pago Pago, Amer. Samoa
3Â Â Â
Prince Washington   CB   Fresno, Calif.
78Â Â Â
Brandon Weldon   OL   Compton, Calif.
84Â Â Â
Pierre Williams   WR   Gustine, Calif.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
- For the second consecutive season, Sacramento State and Montana State enter the final week of the regular season undefeated in Big Sky play at 7-0. If both teams win or both lose, they will be named co-champions and the automatic qualifier for the playoffs will go to the team with the highest Sagarin ranking. Currently, the Hornets are 73rd and the Bobcats are 103rd.
- Sacramento State could know the result of the Montana at MSU game before the Hornets takes the field as the two teams will kick off at 11 a.m. PT.
- A Hornet victory would make Sacramento State just the second school in Big Sky history to go 8-0 in back-to-back seasons. The previous instance came in 2006 and 2007 by Montana. If both Montana State and the Hornets win, the pair will become the second duo to go 8-0 in the same Big Sky season. Eastern Washington and North Dakota were the first to perform the feat in 2016.
- Since 1963, only 11 teams have gone 8-0 in a year comprised of Idaho (1989), Nevada (1991), Montana (1996, '00, '06, '07, '09), EWU (2013, '16), North Dakota (2016) and Sacramento State (2021).
RANKINGS REHASH
- Saturday will mark the 23rd time since the start of the 2019 season that Sacramento State will play as a team ranked in the top 25. Prior to Troy Taylor's arrival as head coach, the Hornets had only played seven games while ranked in the Div. I-era (1993-2018).
- The team is ranked second in the Stats Perform media poll and second in the AFCA FCS coaches poll for the second straight week. The ranking is the highest in school history. Sacramento State's previous high was No. 4 in the final week of the 2019 season.
- Since 2019, Sacramento State is 20-3 overall and 20-1 in the regular season when ranked in the top 25.
- Sacramento State opened the year in the FCS top 25 for just the second time in school history (2011). The Hornets were picked seventh in both the Stats Perform media poll and the AFCA Coaches poll.
LET'S GO STREAKING
- Sacramento State improved on its best start in school history getting to 10-0 with the win at Portland State. Prior to this season, the previous best start was 6-0 set in 1991.
- This year's team became the second in school history to win 10 games in a season and the first to do so in the regular season.
- The record for victories in a year is 10 which came in the 1988 season. That year, the Hornets were 8-2 in the regular season before advancing to the NCAA Div. II semifinals with a pair of victories.
- The Hornets are one of three FCS teams which are 10-0 this season
- The Hornets have won 18 consecutive Big Sky Conference games. The team's last loss came against Weber State (36-17) at home on Nov. 2, 2019. That defeat is the only conference loss suffered by Troy Taylor in his three seasons.
- Sacramento State has won its last 14 road games against FCS teams and its last 10 road games against all opponents. The overall road win streak is the longest active in the FCS and is tied with Georgia for the longest in all of NCAA Div. I. The team's last road loss came at Cal on Sept. 18, 2021. Its last road loss against an FCS team was against UC Davis on Nov. 17, 2018 in a game played in Reno, Nev., due to poor air quality.
- Sacramento State became the last undefeated team in California this season at the NCAA Div. I, II or III level on Oct. 22 when UCLA lost at Oregon.
- The Hornets have also been well received by the computers as Sacramento State is currently ranked 49th in the Massey ratings. That makes the team the top ranked FCS program in the ratings and places them ahead of Auburn (50th), Boise State (56th), Texas A&M (58th), BYU (61st), Nebraska (71st), Miami (75th), Arizona State (78th), Arizona (80th), California (82nd), Fresno State (83rd), Stanford (87th) and San Diego State (88th).
RUSHING TO THE RECORD
- This year's team needed just 10 games to set the school single-season record in rushing yards. The Hornets topped the previous record of 2,584 in the first quarter at Portland State. Sacramento State is currently averaging 256.8 yards per game which ranks fourth in the FCS.
- The Hornets are also within reach of touchdowns scored and the single-season points record. Along with the finale against UC Davis, the team will also count the numbers from any FCS playoff game towards its total.
Single-Season Rushing Yds   Total   Needs
1.   2022   2,721   ---
2.   1999   2,584   ---
Single-Season Touchdowns   Total   Needs
1.   2019   63   7
2.   2014   60   4
3.   2022   56   ---
Single-Season Points   Total   Needs
1.   2019   464   34
2.   2014   458   28
3.   2022   430   ---
OVER THE TOP
- Through its first seven Big Sky games, Sacramento State has easily surpassed the rushing yards against average of its opponent in each contest. The team's most notable performances came in the home wins over Montana and Idaho which are currently ranked first and third in the Big Sky, respectively, in rush defense. In those games, the Hornets more than doubled the average allowed by those teams entering the game.
- The Hornets head into the Causeway Classic ranked second in rushing in Big Sky games with an average of 265.6 yards per game.
Opponent |
Average
Before Game |
Hornet
Rushing Yards |
Percent
Over Avg. |
Cal Poly |
160.0 |
227 |
+41.9% |
Northern Colo. |
192.5 |
332 |
+70.1% |
Eastern Wash. |
281.0 |
385 |
+37.0% |
Montana |
76.2 |
180 |
+136.2% |
Idaho |
107.1 |
294 |
+174.5% |
Weber State |
116.0 |
204 |
+75.9% |
Portland State |
174.8 |
237 |
+35.6% |
UC Davis |
152.2 |
|
|
AT YOUR OWN RISK
- Portland State is the latest team to learn it's not a good idea to attempt an onsides kick against Sacramento State. After the Vikings scored to trim the Hornet lead to 38-10 midway through the fourth quarter, PSU tried an onsides kick which was fielded cleanly by Marshel Martin and returned for a 45-yard touchdown. Portland State tried a second onsides after its final touchdown with four minutes remaining but it was caught by tight end Charlie McBride.
- This season, opponents have tried six onsides kick but have yet to be successful. Compounding the result is two of the six have been returned for touchdowns as Cameron Skattebo had a 43-yard return for a score against Utah Tech in the opener.
- Prior to Portland State, Martin had never attempted a kickoff return at any level of football in his career.
- Dating back to 1980, this year is the first time Sacramento State has had two kick off returns for touchdowns.
NO MIDDLE GROUND
- The Hornets continued their streak of either playing nearly flawless in the eyes of the officials or being plagued by flags by being called for just one penalty for five yards at Portland State. That effort marked the seventh time in the school's Div. I history (1993-pres.) that the Hornets have been called for just one foul. The five yards is tied for second in the Hornet record book. One of the previous instances came earlier this year at Colorado State where the team had the same number of penalties and yards.
- Sacramento State now has four games this season with three penalties or less. The team also has four games with eight flags or more, including a season high 12 for 105 yards at Cal Poly.
60 IS JUST A NUMBER
- Portland State completed just 43.7 percent of its passes (14-32) against the Hornets last Friday. That effort continued a streak of 13 consecutive games in which Sacramento State has held its opponent to under a completion percentage of under .600.
- The last team to eclipse 60 percent was Cal Poly in 2021 which completed 22-of-31 attempts (.709).
- On offense, the Hornets opened the season by throwing for at least 60 percent in its first seven games of the season. That streak came to an end against Montana where the team was 21-of-40 (.525). Things got worse the next week against Idaho at 8-of-19 (.421).
- Under Troy Taylor (2019-pres.), Sacramento State has completed at least 60 percent of its passes in 25 of 35 games where it has a 22-3 record. Opponents have only completed 60 percent of their passes in 10 games, going 5-5 in the process. Three of the five losses have come against Arizona State, Fresno State and Cal.
THEY KEEP GOING AND GOING...
- Sacramento State moved up a spot to fourth in the FCS in rushing yards per game at 256.8. Davidson leads the FCS at 357.4 per game while Montana State is second, and tops the Big Sky, at 314.9.
- Sacramento State has rushed for over 300 yards in three games this season: Utah Tech (378), Northern Colorado (332) and Eastern Washington (385). The EWU and UT games rank third and fourth in school Div. I history and are the most by a team which did not include All-American running back Charles Roberts.
- Cameron Skattebo recorded the 15th 1,000-yard rushing season in school history with his effort at Weber State. Skattebo now has 1,154 yards and averages 115.4 yards per game which leads the Big Sky and ranks 11th in the FCS.
- He produced 104 yards on just nine carries at Portland State to give him five 100-yard performances in the last six games and seven this season.
- A lot of the credit can be pointed towards the offensive line where the Hornets have used the same starting five on the offensive line in every game this year. The unit which is comprised of Troy Stiefel (LT), Jackson Slater (LG), Nathan Mejia (C), Brandon Weldon (RG) and Ivan Garza (RT).
- Skattebo was named third team all-Big Sky a year ago. He rushed for 520 yards and scored six touchdowns while averaging 9.12 yards per carry.
- Skattebo came to Sacramento State in the fall of 2020 following a stellar career at nearby Rio Linda HS. With the Knights, he rushed for 6,192 career yards and 69 touchdowns. As a junior he was named the area player of the year and was an all-state selection with 3,550 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns while leading Rio Linda to the CIF 5-A state title.
Career Rushing Yards   Total   Needs
9.   Garrett Safron (2011-14)   1,906   232
10.
Cameron Skattebo (2021-pres.)Â Â Â 1,674Â Â Â ---
Single-Season Rushing Yards   Total   Needs
5.   Rob Harrison (1986)   1,334   180
6.   Michael Stewart (1985)   1,161   7
7.   Elijah Dotson (2018)   1,154   ---
  Â
Cameron Skattebo (2022)Â Â Â 1,154Â Â Â ---
IT'S ALMOST AUTOMATIC
- Asher O'Hara had a Sacramento State career long 39-yard rush for a touchdown at Portland State and also threw for a score in the team's victory over the Vikings. O'Hara finished the game with 57 rushing yards and 67 passing yards.
- O'Hara now has a rushing touchdown in all 10 games this year and has scored in 13 consecutive regular season games dating back to last year. In his two years at Sacramento State, O'Hara has rushing touchdowns in 17 of 22 games played.
- He enters this week with 17 rushing touchdowns which is the most by a quarterback in school history and ties him for third place all-time at Sacramento State with Troy Mills (1991). Charles Roberts is the only player ahead of the two as he had 22 rushing touchdowns in 1999 and 18 in 1998.
- Dating back to last season, O'Hara has accounted for 41 touchdowns as a Hornet (26 rushing, 14 passing, 1 receiving). Counting his time at Middle Tennessee, O'Hara has rushed for 41 touchdowns and thrown for 42 scores in five seasons.
- O'Hara currently ranks second on the team with 747 rushing yards while averaging 4.7 yards per carry. The school single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback is 751 by Garrett Safron in 2014.
- O'Hara has also been highly efficient through the air. He has completed 55-of-72 pass attempts this season, including a perfect 10-of-10 at Colorado State. He currently has a pass efficiency rating of 175.6 which would set the school record. However, he is currently 28 attempts shy of the minimum of 100 attempts.
Career Rushing Touchdowns   Total   Needs
3.   Donald Hair (1985-85)   30   4
   John Farley (1980-83)   30   4
5.  Â
Asher O'Hara (2021-pres.)Â Â Â 26Â Â Â ---
Single Season Rushing TDs   Total   Needs
1.   Charles Roberts (1999)   22   5
2.   Charles Roberts (1988)   19   2
3.   Troy Mills (1991)   17   ---
  Â
Asher O'Hara (2022)Â Â Â 17Â Â Â ---
Career Rushing Yards   Total   Needs
14. BJ Perkinson (2017-21)Â Â Â 1,517Â Â Â 108
15. Pedro Lewis (1991-93)Â Â Â 1,487Â Â Â 78Â Â Â
16. Tyronne Gross (2002-04)Â Â Â 1,448Â Â Â 39
17.
Asher O'Hara (2021-22)Â Â Â 1,409Â Â Â ---
AMONG THE GREATS
- Senior Pierre Williams has saved his best performances of the season for the end of the year. Against Portland State, Williams caught a game-high seven passes for a season-high 136 yards. He also had touchdowns of 5 and 4 yards.
- Despite now having 21 career touchdowns, Friday's game was just the second multi-TD contest for Williams during his career. His first came in 2019 where he caught three against Southern Oregon.
- Williams has caught at least one pass in all 10 games this season and has scored a touchdown in five contests. He ranks second on the team with six receiving touchdowns, 500 receiving yards and 34 receptions.
- In 2021, Williams led the team with 764 yards and ranked second with 50 receptions. His average of 73.8 yards per game was easily the best among Hornets. If you remove the Northern Colorado game (where he was limited to the first series and didn't catch a pass), Williams averaged 83.0 yards per game.
- During the year he had a three-game stretch where he went over the century mark with 122 yards against UNI, 121 at Cal and 130 at Idaho State.
- Williams is one of three players in program history to have at least eight 100-yard receiving games in his career. The other two are Fred Amey (14 games) and DeAndre Carter (10)Â who both were named FCS All-Americans during their career and played in the NFL.
Career Receiving Yards   Total   Needs
1.   Fred Amey (2001-04)   4,049   1,301
2.   DeAndre Carter (2011-14)   2,760   12
3.  Â
Pierre Williams (2018-pres.)Â Â Â 2,748Â Â Â ---
Career Receiving Touchdowns   Total   Needs
2. Â Â Â Fred Amey (2001-04)Â Â Â 27Â Â Â 6
3.  Â
Marshel Martin (2019-pres.)Â Â Â 21Â Â Â ---
  Â
Pierre Williams (2018-pres.)Â Â Â 21Â Â Â ---
Career Receptions   Total   Needs
3.   DeAndre Carter (2011-14)   207   38
4.  Â
Pierre Williams (2018-pres.)Â Â Â 169Â Â Â ---
FINDING PAYDIRT
- Jake Dunniway continued his streak to 12 consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass when he found Pierre Williams for a 4-yard score in the second quarter.
- Playing in a strong wind, Dunniway was efficient against the Vikings, completing 10-of-15 passes for 147 yards and a score. Dunniway has now thrown for 1,698 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. His next TD pass will move him into a five-way tie for seventh place in school single-season history.
- The senior is now ranked among the top 10 in nearly every career passing category in Sacramento State history. Earlier this year, he passed quarterbacks coach Bobby Fresques in completions, attempts, yards and touchdown passes.
- Dunniway was named third team all-Big Sky as a quarterback in 2021. He played in all 12 games, earning the start in nine where he threw for 2,576 yards and 12 touchdowns. The senior's 63.2 completion percentage and 8.94 yards per pass placed him third in school single-season history while his pass efficiency of 148.6 ranked fourth in the Hornet record book. Dunniway had four 300-yard passing performances, including a career best 370 at Cal and 331 in the FCS Playoffs against South Dakota State. He was named the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week after a 328 yard, two touchdown effort against NAU.
Career Passing Yards   Total   Needs
5.   Mike Sullivan (1981-83)   5,085   229
6.   Tony Corbin (1995-96)   4,866   10
7.  Â
Jake Dunniway (2019-pres.)Â Â Â 4,856Â Â Â ---
Career Pass Attempts   Total   Needs
6.   Mike Sullivan (1981-83)   663   81
7.  Â
Jake Dunniway (2019-pres.)Â Â Â 582Â Â Â ---
Career Completions   Total   Needs
4.   Kevin Thomson (2017-19)   441   82
5.   Mike Sullivan (1981-83)   365   6
6.  Â
Jake Dunniway (2019-pres.)Â Â Â 359Â Â Â ---
Career TD Passes   Total   Needs
4.   Jason Smith (2007-09)   38   5
5.   Tony Corbin (1995-96)   34   1
   Mike Sullivan (1981-83)   34   1
7.   Ricky Ray (1999-2000)   33   ---
  Â
Jake Dunniway (2019-pres.)Â Â Â 33Â Â Â ---
STARTING OVER
- Marshel Martin had his streak of 31 consecutive games — every game of his career — with at least one reception come to an end when he played just one snap in the home win against Idaho. Martin was back in the lineup at Weber State and responded with four catches for 70 yards and two scores and added two catches for 31 yards at Portland State.
- Despite essentially playing one fewer games than most players on the team, Martin still leads the Hornets with 40 receptions for 538 yards and eight touchdowns.
- The Vallejo, Calif., native has had at least 75 receiving yards in four games this season, including four of the last seven. He set a season high with six grabs for 103 yards against Northern Colorado.
- His second touchdown at Weber State broke his own school record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end. Martin now ranks first with eight scores this season, second with seven in 2019 and is third with six in 2021.
- The junior has now accumulated more receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns than any other non-wide receiver in school history.
- Martin was named first team all-Big Sky in 2021 and was a second team All-American by the AFCA. He was recognized by HERO Sports as a Freshman All-American in 2019 and a Sophomore All-American in 2021. Martin was also a preseason all-Big Sky choice and preseason All-American heading into 2022.
Career Receiving Yards   Total   Needs
5.   Mike Carter (1968-69)   1,834   97
   Lamont Webb (1997-2000)   1,834   97
7.   Jaelin Ratliff (2015-18)   1,749   12
8.  Â
Marshel Martin (2019-pres.)Â Â Â 1,737Â Â Â ---
Career Receiving Touchdowns   Total   Needs
2. Â Â Â Fred Amey (2001-04)Â Â Â 27Â Â Â 6
3. Â Â Â
Marshel Martin (2019-pres.)Â Â Â 21Â Â Â ---
Career Receptions   Total   Needs
5.   Isiah Hennie (2014-17)   139   7
6.   Shane Harrison (2011-15)   134   2
7.  Â
Marshel Martin (2019-pres.)Â Â Â 132Â Â Â ---
PILING ON
- Linebacker Armon Bailey added to his team-leading total with seven stops at Portland State. Bailey now has 71 tackles this season and has had seven or more in five straight games and seven of the past eight.
- The Vallejo, Calif., native also leads the team with 12.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.0 sacks. He has previously twice been named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week.
- Bailey debuted for the Hornets in 2018 where he played in seven games. The next year he was in the lineup for eight of the first nine before missing the last three contests of the season. After having the 2020 season canceled, he returned in 2021 and started the year with three TFLs at Dixie State. However, he would play in just two more games during the season after suffering another injury.
COPY AND PASTE
- Kicker Kyle Sentkowski has been nearly robotic over the last four games, making a field goal and converting at least four PATs in Sacramento State's wins over Montana, Idaho, Weber State and Portland State.
- After missing his first two field goal attempts of the season, the senior has made his last 12, including his last six from 40-plus yards. His most recent field goal was a 41-yarder at Portland State.
- Sentkowski was named the Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance at Eastern Washington. He finished the game with 10 points and has scored in double figures four times this year.
- With the Hornet offense scoring touchdowns at an unprecedented rate, Sentkowski has moved into a tie for first place in the school single-season list with 56 PATs this season.
- He ranks second on the team this season with 92 points, trailing only Asher O'Hara's 108.
- In 2021, he earned first team all-Big Sky honors after setting the school single-season record with 21 made field goals and ranking seventh in the Hornet record book with 39 PATs.
Career Field Goals   Total   Needs
1.   Scott Brown (1996-99)   44   11
2.   Juan Gamboa (2005-08)   36   3
3. Devon Medeiros (2015-19)Â Â Â 34Â Â Â 1
4.
Kyle Sentkowski (2019-pres.)Â Â Â 33Â Â Â ---
Career PATs   Total   Needs
1.   Devon Medeiros (2015-19)   134   34
2.   Scott Brown (1996-99)   107   7
3.  Â
Kyle Sentkowski (2019-pres.)Â Â Â 100Â Â Â ---
Single Season PATs   Total   Needs
1.   Brad Cornish (2014)   56   ---
2.  Â
Kyle Sentkowski (2022)Â Â Â 56Â Â Â ---
THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY
- The victory at Colorado State not only was the first against an FBS team for head coach Troy Taylor, it also moved him into fifth place in school history for total victories with 21 at the time. Taylor, who now has 27 wins, trails just Bob Mattos (84 wins), Ray Clemons (70), Marshall Sperbeck (35) and John Volek (31).
- However, Taylor's winning percentage of .800 (28-7) is easily the best in program history. He earned his 20th victory in his 27th game at the helm of the Hornets. Ray Clemons had held the record for the fastest Sacramento State coach to 20 wins, needing 39 games between 1961 and the first game of the 1965 season.
- Part of Taylor's success has been the ability for his team's to win on the road. Sacramento State is 14-0 in road games against FCS teams and 15-3 against all opponents with the only losses coming at Arizona State, Fresno State and Cal.
- The Hornets are 12-0 in Big Sky road games since 2019. Prior to that season, Sacramento State won just 24 Big Sky road games in 23 seasons in the conference.
SERIES FACTS
- Despite this being the 68th Causeway Classic, Saturday's game will be the 69th meeting between the two schools. In 1988, the teams met twice, with Sacramento State winning in both the regular season (31-28) and the first round of the Div. II playoffs (35-13). The first of those victories ended an 18-game losing streak.
- The game was not referred to as the Causeway Classic until 1983. Former Sacramento State SID Mike Duncan is credited with creating the moniker.
- The Causeway Classic has drawn 637,524 fans over the past 66 years. The two largest Sacramento State football crowds have come against UC Davis. In 1999, 20,993 attended the game while the 2019 contest drew 19,882.
CONNECTIONS
- The Hornets have two direct connections as OL Kaden Richardson and QB Jake Dunniway both started their collegiate careers at UC Davis but did not play in a game for the Aggies.
- There are a combined 63 players on both rosters who played high school football in the Sac-Joaquin Section. That total includes 39 for the Hornets.
- Dan Hawkins and Bobby Fresques are the only coaches on either staff to have appeared in a Causeway Classic.
SERIES LEADERS
Sacramento State
Rushing:
211, Charles Roberts (34 att., 1 TD), 1999
185, Troy Mills (21 att., 2 TD), 1991
173, Troy Mills (29 att., 0 TD), 1990
Passing
396, AJ Barnhardt (20-42-0-2), 1997
377, Ricky Ray (19-27-0-4), 1999
341, Greg Knapp (22-38-2-2), 1984
Receiving
197, Mitch Oliver (7 rec., 3 TD), 1995
176, Jason Barnes (6 rec.), 2006
174, Clint Primm (11 rec.), 1992
Tackles (1980-pres.)
17, Darnell Sankey (6-11), 2015
16, Ryland Wickman (6-10, 2 TFL, Sack), 1997
15, Henry Fernandez (8-7, 2 TFL), 2014
15, Immanuel Anderson (9-6), 2018
UC Davis
Rushing
249, Manusamoa Luuga (38 att., TD), 2016
243, Preston Jackson (27 att., 2 TD), 1993
189, Jermaine Rucker (30 att., 4 TD), 1995
Passing
478, Jake Maier (37-46-0-4), 2018
379, Kevin Daft (26-39-0-4), 1997
378, Mark Grieb (23-39-3-1), 1996
Receiving
207, Keelan Doss, (7 rec., 4 TD), 2016
205, Keelan Doss (16 rec., 2 TD), 2018
198, Allen Fleming (8 rec., 2 TD), 1982
Tackles (1980-pres.)
17, Ed McNichol (7-10, 2 TFL), 1988
14, Dan Elbanna (3-11, TFL, Sack, INT), 2002
14, Zach Jones (9-5, TFL), 2014
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