SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a game which featured just three combined punts, a kick proved to play a large role for Eastern Washington in a 35-28 win over Sacramento State on Saturday in front of 14,916 fans at Hornet Stadium.
 
The loss dropped the 20^th-ranked Hornets to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the Big Sky Conference while the Eagles improved to 2-4 and 1-1 in league games.
 
After tying the game, 21-21, EWU's Jackson Cleaver dribbled an onsides kick which was recovered by Conner O'Farrell exactly 10 yards ahead of the kick. The ensuing drive resulted in a touchdown for the Eagles and gave the team their first lead in the game.
 
That 7-point lead proved to be enough as Sacramento State was never able to pull closer for the remainder of the game. The team scored its final touchdown with 1:53 remaining in the fourth quarter but the Hornets' onsides attempt failed sealing their fate.
 
The first half was extremely efficient with both teams scoring touchdowns on all their full possessions. The Hornets took the opening kickoff and drove 13 plays before Carson Conklin found Jared Gipson for a 13-yard touchdown. EWU answered with a 9-play, 69-yard drive which was punctuated by a 25-yard rush from Tuna Altahir to tie the game.
 
The second quarter began with a 1-yard pass from Conklin to Coleman Kuntz to finish a 15-play, 75-yard drive. The Eagles responded with a 13-play drive of its own to tie the game following a 1-yard rush from Kekoa Visperas.
 
The final points of the half were scored by the Hornets when Conklin found Anderson Grover for a 13-yard score in the front left corner of the end zone with 1:13 remaining. The only stop of the half came when the Eagles were unable score on their final drive which began on their own 10-yard line.
 
Sacramento State entered the game ranked third in the FCS while allowing 67.8 rushing yards per game. The team had held its opposition to 85 yards or less in four of the first five games but surrendered 286 to EWU on Saturday with Altahir rushing for 102 and a touchdown and Jared Taylor adding 98 yards and two scores. The Eagles were also efficient through the air, completing 16-of-18 passes for 155 yards with a touchdown.
 
Conklin became the 14^th quarterback in Sacramento State history to toss four touchdown passes in the game. The redshirt freshman hit four different receivers for scores in the contest and finished the night 21-of-35 for 238 yards. Elijah Tau-Tolliver had a quick start, rushing for 64 yards in the first quarter and finished with 94 rushing yards while averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
 
Linebackers Nakian Jackson and Will Leota were the top tacklers for the Hornets. Jackson finished with 11 tackles for the second-straight game while Leota was credited with nine.
 
Sacramento State will remain at Hornet Stadium next week to face Weber State on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. for Homecoming.
 
NOTES

• Punter Cal McGough rushed for 10 yards on fake punt early in the fourth quarter. McGough has now rushed for 30 yards on two fakes in his career.
• Jared Gipson finished with four receptions for 68 yards and now ranks sixth in school history with 1,845 career receiving yards. Gipson is also now ninth with 115 career receptions.
• Zach Schreiner is tied for seventh with 68 career extra points.
• With the help on the onsides kick, EWU had possession for 13:30 of the 15 minutes in the third quarter. The Eagles finished the game with a 32:59-27:01 advantage in time of possession.
• Both teams were 7-of-12 on third down conversions and 2-2 on fourth down.
• The game featured seven drives of 75 yards or longer and five drives which took over five minutes off the clock.