A BRIEF PREVIEW

• The Sacramento State football team will play its seventh, and final, road game of the season when the Hornets travel to San Luis Obispo, Calif., to take on Cal Poly on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m.
• Sacramento State fell to 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the Big Sky Conference following a 49-7 loss at No. 2 Montana State last weekend. The Bobcats rushed for 511 yards and seven touchdowns in the game.
• This week's game will continue a long-standing series between the Hornets and Mustangs which dates back to 1967. The teams have played annually since 2012 and the all-time series is knotted, 21-21. Taking it a step further, the series is tied, 10-10, in games played in Sacramento and 11-11 in San Luis Obispo. Sacramento State has won the last four meetings and five of the last six games. That follows a stretch where Cal Poly won nine of 10 games.
• Hornet fans can tune in to ESPN 1320 AM to hear the radio call of Jason Ross, Brian Berger and Danny Sullivan. Live audio streaming is also available via www.hornetsports.com and the Audacy app.
• The game will also be aired streamed on ESPN+ with Chris Sylvester (play-by-play) and John Kane (analyst).

OPPONENT PREVIEW: CAL POLY

• Cal Poly dropped to 2-7 overall and 1-5 in conference play with a 31-14 home loss to Northern Arizona. Sophomore Jackson Akins earned his first career start at quarterback and completed 32-of-41 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions. 
• Akins is one of four CP quarterbacks who have attempted at least 20 passes this season. No matter who is throwing, wide receiver Giancarlo Woods has been the top target. Woods has caught 43 passes for 593 yards and four touchdowns and is averaging 65.89 yards per game. The team's top rusher is Aiden Ramos at 33.78 yards per game while quarterback Richie Watts has a team-best four rushing touchdowns.
• All-American Elijah Ponder headlines the Cal Poly defense. Ponder has 8.5 tackles-for-loss, including five sacks.  He also had 13 QB hurries, two pass breakups, has forced a fumble and blocked a kick. Mason Rivera leads the team with 64 total tackles, with six for loss.
• Paul Wulff is in his second season as the team's head coach. Wulff was previously the head coach at Eastern Washington and Washington State and also was an assistant coach at Sacramento State. The coaching staff also includes assistant head coach/defensive line coach Will Plemons and tight ends coach Joey Muscarella who both had stints with the Hornets.

IT KEEPS GOING AND GOING...

• Injuries are a part of football and this time of year they have a tendency to pile up. After staying relatively healthy through the last four years, Sacramento State has seen its season opening projected starting lineup miss a total of 69 games this season.

Games
Projected Starter Position Missed
Nathan Mejia - C - 10
Xavier Williams - DT - 10
Jose Soto - G - 9
Kaleb Higgins - S - 8
Kaiden Bennett - QB - 8
DJ Houston - CB - 5
Gavin Davis-Smith - NB - 4
Brandon Knott - DT - 4
Josh Cashiola - DE - 3
Anderson Grover - WR - 1
Danny Scudero - WR 1
Elijah Tau-Tolliver - RB - 1
Jackson Slater - G - 1
Nakian Jackson - LB - 1

NEWEST MEMBER OF THE CLUB

• Although starting running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver returned to the starting lineup against Montana State, redshirt freshman Curron Borders was able to find the end zone for the first time in his collegiate career with a 43-yard run in the third quarter. Borders finished the game with five carries for 57 yards and led the team with an average of 11.4 yards per carry.
• Borders breakout game of the season came at Idaho State where he became the 46th Hornet to record a 100-yard rushing game when he amassed 145 yards.
• Borders was part of a lethal ground attack which slashed ISU for 299 rushing yards among four backs. Borders finished the game with a career-high 18 carries and averaged 8.1 yards per attempt.
• Tau-Tolliver joined Borders in triple digits as he had an even 100 yards on 11 carries before leaving the first half with an injury. Borders and Tau-Tolliver became the first Hornet duo to each have over 100 rushing yards in a game since Marcus Fulcher (108) and Cameron Skattebo (101) against Incarnate Word in the 2022 FCS Playoffs.
• Borders' 145 yards are the 13th most in school history among players in their first game over the century mark. The last player with more yards was B.J. Perkinson who had 155 at home against Idaho State in 2017.
• Posting big numbers is nothing new to Borders as he rushed for 3,574 and 50 touchdowns in three varsity seasons at Antelope HS in Sacramento. As a senior, he rushed for 1,368 yards and 18 touchdowns in 11 games.

A BUSY DAY

• Punter Cal McGough matched his career high for punt attempts as the junior was called up seven times at Montana State. McGough had previously had seven punt attempts last season at Montana and this year at Fresno State.
• McGough responded by averaging 44.7 yards per punt with a long of 56. He also placed three of his seven punts inside the opponent 20-yard line. He finished the game with a net average of 44.4 yards per punt as MSU tallied just two return yards on four attempts. That effort was aided by a pair of tackles from true freshman Adam Taylor as well as one each from Dejuan Butler and special teams standout Sawyer Merrill.
• For the year, McGough is now averaging 42.59 yards per punt which would place him ninth in school single-season history. His career average of 42.21 is currently third all-time at Sacramento State trailing only Justin Weldon (2012-13, 44.16) and Doyle Brunson (1968-69, 42.27).

REMEMBER YOUR FIRST TIME

• Redshirt freshman tight end Jayden Flaig joined the small group of Hornets who have scored a touchdown on their first career reception when he caught a 3-yard pass from Carson Conklin in the second quarter against Portland State. Flaig was pressed into duty after a rash of injuries at the position and showed well in his first collegiate game with significant reps, catching four passes for 37 yards with a long of 17.
• Three other current Hornets have scored touchdowns on their first offensive touch with the team. Wide receiver Anderson Grover caught a 6-yard touchdown pass in the season opener at Nicholls last year. Tight end Austin Jarrard had a 5-yard TD grab at Idaho in 2023 and wide receiver Danny Scudero rushed for a 16-yard rush against Montana State. 
• The tight end position has been dramatically thinned throughout this season. Jay Rudolph played in the first two games before a neck injury has sidelined him. Jarrard had missed three games this year before returning at MSU. Gavin Nelson didn't play in the first four games of the year after elbow surgery  and was forced out of the PSU game. Also against the Vikings, preseason all-Big Sky selection Coleman Kuntz was injured and did not return. Kuntz ranks fifth on the team with 25 receptions for 191 yards this season and has two touchdowns.
• Along with Jarrard and Flaig, the Hornet roster also boasts true freshmen Tommy Poe and Kyle Koontz at the position but neither have appeared in a game this season.

TURNOVER TIDBITS

• Sacramento State forced its 18th turnover of the year when linebacker Will Leota jarred the ball free from Adam Jones and safety Anta'Veon McKenzie was able to recover. The Hornets have now recovered nine fumbles and intercepted nine passes during the year and are tied for 18th in the FCS in turnovers created.
• The team's nine interceptions have been spread out over six players. Will Leota, Murvin Kenion III and Elias Mullican are the only players with two picks this year. 
• Eight Hornets have recovered a fumble led by two from defensive end Ben Ahio. Leota and cornerback Zelmar Vedder are the only players to have intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble this year. Vedder and Leota are the only players to have an interception, fumble recovery and forced fumble.
• On the other side, Sacramento State has committed 21 turnovers which is tied for 121st of 123 FCS teams. The team has had at least one turnover in every game and has three or more turnovers in three games. This season, the Hornets have lost nine fumbles and thrown 12 interceptions.
• Compounding the problem has been the result of the turnovers. In all nine games, Sacramento State has turned the 17 turnovers forced into five touchdowns and two field goals. The oppositions owns eight touchdowns and two field goals on its 20 turnovers created. The numbers are more staggering in Big Sky Conference games where the Hornets have one touchdown and one field goal off turnovers forced and have given up six touchdowns on its own turnovers.
• The turnovers have led to the Hornets allowing five non-offensive touchdowns this season. That total is comprised of  two fumble recoveries for touchdowns and two pick sixes as well as a punt return TD. Sacramento State has one non-offensive touchdown this year coming on an interception return by Elias Mullican at East Texas A&M.
• Overall, the team's turnover minus-3 turnover ratio (-0.33 per game) is tied for 82nd in the FCS. 

READY TO GET BACK ON TRACK

• Elijah Tau-Tolliver had a rude return to the field as he was limited to a season-low 43 rushing yards at Montana State. Tau-Tolliver had missed the second half of the Idaho State game as well as all of the action against Portland State.
• The junior saw his average dip below 100 yards and is now at 96.6 yards per game which places him 18th in the FCS and fourth in the Big Sky Conference.
• Before facing the Bobcats, Tau-Tolliver needed just one half to rush for 100 yards against Weber State and ISU. Tau-Tolliver earned 127 yards and three touchdowns on 13 first-half carries against WSU before finishing the game 141 yards. At Idaho State, he had 11 attempts for 100 yards and a score before leaving the game with an injury and not returning. 
• Tau-Tolliver owns six 100-yard games in his career which places him into a four-way tie for 10th place in school history. The junior does have some work to do to chase down the next person on the list as Rob Harrison and Cameron Skattebo are tied with nine 100-yard games.
• Against Weber State, he showed a new wrinkle, catching 11 passes for 85 yards. His 11 catches are tied for the 11th most in school single-game history and are the most by a running back. Prior to that game, Tau-Tolliver had never caught more than three passes for 50 yards in a game.
• Tau-Tolliver became the fifth Hornet to record three 100-yard games prior to the end of September as he had 110 yards at San Jose State, 111 yards against Nicholls and 127 at East Texas A&M. John Farley was the first to achieve the feat in 1982 and was followed by Troy Mills in 1991. Charles Roberts then took it to another level, rushing for four 100-yard games in September in 1998 and 1999 and then five in 2000. Tyronne Gross is the most recent Hornet before Tau-Tolliver with three 100-yard games in September of 2003. 
• Tau-Tolliver needs 131 rushing yards to record the 16th 1,000-yard season in school history and is 234 yards shy of cracking the school single-season top 10.
• Sacramento State has played two games on national television in the last two seasons and both have been then-career efforts for Tau-Tolliver. Last season, the running back amassed 100 yards against Montana State in an ESPN2 game, including a 53-yard touchdown. This year, he rushed for 110 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns at San Jose State in the first college football game aired on TruTV.
• The Sparks, Nev., native has thrived in big games during his career. As a redshirt freshman, he returned the second half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown against Richmond in the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. In last season's win at Stanford he had just one carry but made the most of it with a 1-yard touchdown.

YOUNG GUN

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Carson Conklin faced his stiffest competition of the season and was limited to 12-of-27 passing for 138 yards at Montana State and was held without a touchdown for the first time this season. The completions, attempts and yardage were all season lows for Conklin in games he started.
• A week earlier, Conklin passed for 314 yards and four touchdowns against Portland State. During the game, he set the school record for passing touchdowns by a freshman with 21. The previous mark was held by Ryan Leadingham who had 18 in 2001.
• Conklin now owns three 300-yard passing game in his career and has thrown three or more touchdown passes in six contests.
• On his current pace, Conklin is in reach of Leadingham's school freshman record of 2,752 passing yards. In order to do that, Conklin would need to average 286.5 passing yards per game over the final two games of the season. Conklin has also moved into the single-season top 10 lists in school history for touchdowns and completions.
• Conklin was named the Stats Perform FCS Freshman of the Week after completing 32-of-47 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns in the overtime win over Weber State. Each of those stats set career bests for Conklin breaking his previous marks of 22 completions, 37 attempts and 313 yards.
• Conklin's 32 completions tied him for 10th place in school single-game history and were the most since Asher O'Hara also had 32 completions against UNI on Sept. 11, 2021. The last Hornet QB with more than 32 completions in a game was Nate Ketteringham who had 34 against Montana State on Oct. 1, 2016.
• Conklin's yardage total was the 28th best in school history. He became the 16th Hornet quarterback to have multiple 300-yard games in their career.
• Conklin became the 14th player in school history to have four TD passes in a game when he did it against Eastern Washington on Oct. 12. Overall, Hornet QBs have had four or more touchdowns in a game 29 times. 
• Conklin debuted with Sacramento State during the 2023 season, appearing in four games. During that run, he tossed three touchdown passes in home games against Idaho State and Cal Poly and finished the year with 744 passing yards.
• Among the 11 true and redshirt quarterbacks that qualify for the NCAA FCS statistics, Conklin leads the subdivision in completions, pass attempts, yards and touchdowns.

TERRIFIC TRIO

• The wide receiver trio of Anderson Grover, Jared Gipson and Danny Scudero combined to catch 11 passes for 138 yards at Montana State. The trio was led by Scudero who caught seven passes for 70 yards. 
• Grover has caught at least two passes in the nine games he's played this season and has five-plus receptions in four games. He leads the team with 617 yards, ranks second with five receiving touchdowns, and 14.7 yards per reception.
• Gipson was limited to just one catch for five yards against the Bobcats. The week prior, he had two receiving touchdowns against Portland State and moved into a tie for eighth place in school history with 15 career receiving scores.
• Gipson has caught at least one pass in 40 career games, including the last 14. He moved into sole possession of eight place in career receptions against Weber State and is now sixth in career yards. 
• This season, Gipson has had at least three receptions in all nine games and has had 70 or more receiving yards in three contests. His season high of 138 yards came at Fresno State and was aided by a 78-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown.
• Gipson is also a social media superstar. His football videos have garnered him over a million followers on TikTok and close to 700,000 subscribers on YouTube.
• Scudero caught seven passes at Montana State and now holds a narrow lead with 43 receptions. He surpassed 500 receiving yards on the season against MSU to give the team three players with at least 500 yards for just the fifth time in the school's Div. I era (1994-pres.).
• If Scudero can record 91 receiving yards over the final two games, the trio would become just the second to each have 600 receiving yards in a year for the Hornets. The first came in 1996 with Sheridan Mitchell (743), Carlos Smith (738) and Tyrone Taylor (733). The most recent occurrence was in 1999 with Scott Towne (669), Lamont Webb (609) and Chris Kelly (603).
• Scudero, who is the fastest player on the team, showcased his speed in the first quarter against Portland State with a 26-yard rush for a touchdown. The score was his second rushing TD of his career. He averaged 15.5 yards per reception against Portland State and has caught at least one pass in every game he has played this season.

OH SO CLOSE

• Linebacker Will Leota finished the game at Montana State with nine tackles, leaving him just one takedown short of cracking double figures. Leota has had 10 or more tackles in 11 games during his career, including four this season at Sacramento State. He leads the team with 80 total tackles and is currently averaging 8.0 tackles per game which ranks fifth in the Big Sky. 
• If Leota is able to get 20 tackles over the final two games, he will become the first Hornet to reach 100 tackles in a season since Immanuel Anderson had 107 in 2016. He is also tied for the team lead with tackles-for-loss (9.5) and interceptions (2) and is tied for fourth with two sacks.
• Counting his time at Utah Tech, Leota now has 293 career tackles, including 21.5 for loss.
• Five other players have 10+ tackles this year comprised  of linebacker Nakian Jackson (three times), defensive tackle Brandon Knott, nickelback Davion Ross and safety Eian Moore.

SHUFFLING THE PIECES

• Sacramento State started its fourth different variation on the offensive line this season when it faced Montana State. Injuries to guards Jackson Slater and Kenndel Riley forced the shuffle which moved Aidan Meek from right tackle to right guard and inserted Joey Wright at right tackle and Cade Gretlein at left guard.
• Sacramento State has started eight different players on the offensive line through 10 games and has seen two others receive significant snaps. Only Kaden Richardson (center) has started every game at the same position. Richardson was placed into the starting lineup prior to the season when All-American Nathan Mejia suffered a broken leg in practice. Sawyer Hays has 10 starts split between nine at left tackle and one at right tackle and Meek has eight starts at right tackle and two at right guard.
• The Hornets currently rank 16th in the FCS and fifth in the Big Sky with 1.10 sacks allowed per game. 

KICKING IT

• Zach Schreiner had a light days work at Montana State. The kicker was called upon the first quarter to attempt a would-be career long 52-yard field goal which sailed wide right. After that, his only action was an extra point in the third quarter. That PAT raised Schreiner's total to 79 points this season.
• Schreiner is now 15-of-19 on field goal attempts this season and has made 11 of his last 13. His 15 field goals place him third in school history only behind Kyle Sentkowski who made 21 field goals in 2021 and 17 in 2022.
• A week after kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime, Zach Schreiner forced overtime with a 27-yarder at Idaho State. Schreiner went on to add a 41-yarder on the Hornets' overtime possession.  He finished the game 2-of-3 on field goals after his streak of eight consecutive makes came to an end when he missed a 42-yarder.
• Schreiner leads the team with 79 points this season. In just two years, Schreiner has scored 170 career points but is still 14 points shy of moving into the top 10 for scoring in school history.
• He is tied for seventh in the FCS this season with 1.50 field goals per game and is tied for second with 15 made field goals. The FCS leader in field goals is Southeast Missouri State's DC Pippin who has made 22-of-30 attempts (2.20 per game).
• Schreiner led Sacramento State in 2023 with 91 total points which ranked 10th in school history. Schreiner made 14-of-19 field goals and was perfect on 49 extra points. His 14 field goals tied him for third place in a season at Sacramento State.
• Schreiner is 6-of-7 on kicks between 40-49 yards this year with his only miss coming on a 42-yard attempt at Idaho State. His other misses this season have been a 51-yard try at San Jose State in the season opener, a 27-yard which was blocked against Nicholls and a 52-yarder at MSU.
• The senior's six makes from at least 40 yards ties him for fifth place in school history. Kyle Sentkowski made eight from 40-plus in 2021 and seven in 2022. Scott Brown also had seven in 1998 and 1999.
• Schreiner is now 19-of-21 on field goal attempts inside 40-yards as a Hornet. Dating back to 2019, three Sacramento State kickers have combined to make 216 consecutive PATs. The team's last missed extra point came at Montana State on Oct. 12, 2019.

HE'S A FREAK & NOW AN ALL-STAR

• Senior Jackson Slater had his name thrown around a lot over the summer. Slater was a consensus preseason FCS All-American and, as expected, was named to the preseason all-Big Sky team. The senior also landed on the Shrine Bowl 1000 and the Senior Bowl Watch List.
• Slater worked his way off the watch list and into the Shrine Bowl, it was announced on Oct. 29. Slater becomes the fifth Sacramento State player to be invited to the historical game joining running backs Troy Mills  (1992) and Charles Roberts (2001), offensive lineman Marko Cavka (2004) and wide receiver Fred Amey (2005). 
• His most unique honor may be being named to The Athletic's annual Freak List. The list of 101 players which is comprised by Bruce Feldman features players who have stood out with their performances in the weight room. The 6-foot-3, 316-pound Slater made the list following a power clean of 405 pounds, squatting 635 pounds and running 19.96 mph. 

QUICK HITTERS 

• Sacramento State has several new additions to the coaching staff this season. Keyshawn Colmon serves as the wide receivers coach after spending 2023 at Fresno State. Misi Tupe takes over at linebackers coach. Tupe was previously the defensive coordinator at Utah Tech. Brandyn Thompson will coach cornerbacks and returns to his hometown after spending time at Cal Poly.
• The Hornets will wear a "Q" decal on their helmets this season in tribute to former Sacramento State player, coach and longtime supporter Gary Quattrin who passed away on July 2. Quattrin was a two-time all-Far Western Conference selection and was named to the College Division All-America team his senior season as a linebacker. He played professionally and then coached at Sacramento State from 1968-72 and returned for the 1985 and 1986 seasons.
• Davion Ross is in his seventh season at Sacramento State. Ross arrived on campus in 2018 and redshirted that season. He saw action in eight games, starting five in 2019 and then sat out the 2020 season when the Hornets opted not to play in the spring. Ross appeared in seven games in 2021 before missing all of 2022 (knee) and 2023 (Achilles). During his time at Sacramento State, he has played with 338 different players.
• Nickelback Gavin Davis-Smith was nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their "good works" off the field. 
• Sacramento State head coach Andy Thompson earned his 10th career victory in the win over East Texas A&M. Thompson's milestone came in his 17th game as a head coach. Troy Taylor holds the school record as the fastest coach to 10 wins (14 games). The next fastest was Ray Clemons who needed 23 games from 1961-63.
• The Hornet roster boasts 15 players who have already earned their degree. That list is comprised of QB Kaiden Bennett, S Dejuan Butler, NB Gavin Davis-Smith, WR Anderson Grover, TE Austin Jarrrard, S Murvin Kenion III, DL Brandon Knott, S Eian Moore, OL Kaden Richardson, NB Davion Ross, TE Jay Rudolph, DL Will Schalde, DL Colby Warkentin, DL Xavier Williams and OL Joey Wright.

SERIES NOTES

• The 42 games played against Cal Poly are the second most for any Sacramento State opponent, trailing only UC Davis (70 games).
• The winning team has scored at least 35 points in the last 12 games and 14 of the last 15.
• The Hornets and Mustangs first met in 1967 and played five times between then and 1980. The teams started an annual series in 1983 which continued through the 2006 season. The schools played just one time between 2007 and 2011 but have met each season since Cal Poly joined the Big Sky as an affiliate in 2012.

CONNECTIONS

• Between the two teams there are 205 players on the rosters from California and just 30 from outside the state.
• As expected, the two teams have several players who have crossed paths with one another. There are 36 players on the Hornet roster and 14 for the Mustangs who played at Sac-Joaquin Section high schools.