FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Sacramento State set a school record for points against an FBS team and amassed nearly 400 yards of offense in a 41-10 win over Colorado State on Saturday at Canvas Stadium. The win improved the 6th-ranked Hornets to 3-0 on the season for the first time since 1992, and gave the team its first win over an FBS program since defeating Colorado in 2012.

The Hornets have yet to trail in a game this season, and have now won 11 consecutive regular season games dating back to last year. The 31-point margin of victory was the largest by an FCS school over an FBS opponent since Western Illinois beat Coastal Carolina, 52-10, in 2017. The Hornets have now beaten three FBS programs since joining the Div. I ranks in 1993 (the other being a 29-28 overtime win over Oregon State in 2011). The 10 points scored by Colorado State were the least the Hornets have allowed against an FBS program.

Sacramento State quickly moved down the field on its first drive of the game, covering 74 yards on eight plays. Jake Dunniway competed 4-of-5 passes during the series, including a 32-yard pass to Parker Clayton down the left sideline. Asher O'Hara did the rest with a 6-yard run around the right end for his fifth rushing touchdown of the year.

Colorado State threatened late in the first quarter after a 56-yard pass to Troy Horton took the ball inside the Hornet 10. After the quarter ended, the Sacramento State defense kept the Rams out of the end zone and the team was forced to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Michael Boyle.

Sacramento State responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive to go ahead, 14-3. The team capitalized on two defensive penalties on third down plays to keep the drive alive and capped the series with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Dunniway to Pierre Williams. On the play, the ball was deflected by a Ram defender near the front of the zone and sailed to the back line where Williams won the jump ball for his first TD of the year.

The Hornets extended their lead moments later. Marte Mapu recorded a third-down sack to force a punt which was returned 44 yards by Marcus Fulcher all the way to the CSU 16-yard line. Two plays later, O'Hara dumped the ball off to Fulcher who plowed his way up the sideline for the score.

The final five minutes of the first half saw a flurry of action. Sacramento State was knocking on the door of another touchdown when Dunniway was intercepted by Jack Howell at the CSU 11. The Rams turned the turnover into seven points with a 52-yard catch and run from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to Horton with 1:17 remaining. That drive was kept alive by a 4th-and-3 conversion near midfield.

Sacramento State stormed right back with an 8-play drive of its own which ended with a 45-yard field goal from Kyle Sentkowski to give the team at 24-10 lead at halftime.

The Hornet defense made the first big play of the second half, stopping Colorado State (0-4) on 4th-and-1 from their own 32. Eight plays later, O'Hara soared over the line on 3rd-and-goal from the 1 to push the advantage to 31-10 with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter.

Sacramento State put a ribbon on the victory with a 47-yard field goal from Sentkowski just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter, and then a 16-play drive which ended on a 1-yard touchdown run from Cameron Skattebo. The drive took 10:50 off the clock.

The Hornets outgained Colorado State, 395-253, and held a nearly eight minute advantage in time of possession (33:58-26:02). O'Hara was a perfect 10-for-10 for 71 yards and touchdown, while Dunniway tallied 164 yards and a score on 12-of-23. Jared Gipson led the team with five receptions (50 yards) while Skattebo had a team-high 56 receiving yards to go along with his 67 rushing yards. Fulcher rushed six times for 45 yards, and added two receptions 17 yards. Nine different Hornets had at least one reception, including Williams who finished three catches for 26 yards and the TD.

Defensively, Armon Bailey led Sacramento State with eight tackles and a forced fumble, while Mapu contributed seven stops and a sack. Brandon Knott added the other sack for the Hornets.
Sacramento State will start Big Sky Conference play next Saturday, Oct. 1, at Cal Poly. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

NOTES:

• The 41 points scored are the most by the Hornets against an FBS team.
• Marshel Martin extended his streak to 27 games with a catch in the first quarter.
• Williams' score in the second quarter moved him into a tie with Lamont Webb and Marshel Martin for fifth place in school history with 16.
• Sentkowski's field goal as time expired in the first half moved him into a tie for sixth place in the Sacramento State career list with 25 field goals.
• His 47-yarder in the fourth quarter pushed him into a tie with Brad Cornish and Tyson Becker for fourth place in school history (26).