STANFORD, Calif. — Marcus Fulcher scored with 1:32 remaining and the Sacramento State defense held on the final drive to give the Hornets a 30-23 win over Stanford on Saturday night at Stanford Stadium.

The victory extended the Hornets' regular season win streak to 22 games and gave the team its fourth win over an FBS opponent since 2011 and its second in as many years. Sacramento State improved to 3-0 on the season while the Cardinal dropped to 1-2.

With the game tied, 23-23, Kaiden Bennett was able to escape pressure just before being brought down, and find Fulcher along the sideline. The running back then broke free from a would-be tackle and dashed 49 yards into the end zone for his first receiving touchdown of the year.

Stanford took over its final possession at its own 25-yard line with one timeout remaining. The Cardinal gained 20 yards on the first play of the drive and added an 8-yard completion on the second play. The defense then picked up a sack from DeShawn Lynch, and Armon Bailey chased Stanford quarterback Justin Lamson out of the pocket to force a 4th-and-11. Sacramento State appeared to get off the field with an interception, but offsetting holding penalties were called giving Stanford a second chance. That pass was batted away of the intended target setting off a celebration on the Hornet sideline.

Bennett became just the second Sacramento State player to rush for 100 yards against an FBS opponent, as he had 100 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown. He also completed 21-of-33 passes for 279 yards and a score. Devin Gandy had a career-high five receptions for 64 yards while Carlos Hill and Marshel Martin each had four receptions.

The Hornet defense tallied six sacks with Jett Stanley tallying a career-high three. Bailey and Cameron Broussard tied for the team lead with 11 total tackles.

Sacramento State finished with 448 yards compared to 387 from Stanford. The Hornets had a season-best 279 yards through the air and 177 on the ground.

Stanford dominated the first two series of the game, limiting the Hornets to a three-and-out on the opening drive and then marching 79 yards on 13 plays for a touchdown. The Cardinal ran the ball on all but one play during the drive and chewed 6:30 off the clock before Casey Filkins scored from a yard out.

Sacramento State responded with a 13-play drive of its own which took the ball to the Cardinal 2-yard line. An illegal substitution penalty moved the Hornets back five yards and the team was forced to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Zach Schreiner with 44 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Stanford pushed its lead to 14-3 early in the second quarter when Ashton Daniels found Elic Ayomanor for a 51-yard bomb down the middle of the field. Ayomanor was covered step-for-step on the play but jumped under the Hornet defender and broke free to walk into the end zone from 5-yards out.

The Cardinal then recovered its first onside kick since 2001 and drove to the Hornet 10-yard line. Daniels threw to the front of the end zone where the pass was deflected by Kylen Ross and then grabbed out of the air with a diving catch by Caleb Nelson.

Sacramento State turned the turnover into points with an 11-play, 80-yard drive for a touchdown. The Hornets converted three third down attempts, including two of at least 10 yards during the drive. The big play was a 33-yard pas to Chris Miller setting up a 1-yard rush from Elijah Tao-Tolliver for his first career rushing touchdown.

The defense followed with a three-and-out and Sacramento State took its first lead, 17-14, with an 11-yard rush from Bennett around the left end of the line.The Hornets were again efficient on third down, picking the necessary yardage on both attempts. Sacramento State had just one play over 11 yards during the drive which was a 29-yard pass to Hill.

Stanford knotted the game on the opening drive of the second half behind a 41-yard field goal from Joshua Karty. The Hornets appeared ready to regain the advantage when Bennett connected with Gandy for 39 yards on 4th-and-3 to take the ball to the Cardinal 6-yard line. However, Scotty Edwards picked off a pass on the goal line two plays later to thwart the drive.

Broussard stepped up for the Hornets with a diving interception along the sideline to give the ball back to Sacramento State at the Stanford 21. The offense moved the ball to the 5-yard line before Schreiner made a 22-yard field goal to give the team a three-point lead with a 2:25 left in the quarter.

Stanford moved back ahead with a pair of field goals from Karty early in the fourth quarter. The first was from 40 yards while the second came from 39.

Sacramento State tied the game with 4:13 remaining when Schreiner converted a season-best 44-yard field goal to complete a 9-play. 49-yard drive.

The Hornets start Big Sky Conference play next Saturday at Idaho.

NOTES

• Hornets have won 22 straight regular season games
• Three wins over Pac-12 opponents (Oregon State, Colorado) since 2011
• 12 straight road wins
• Hornets now 3-0 in the Andy Thompson era