A BRIEF PREVIEW

• The Sacramento State football team will have one final chance to play spoiler as the team hosts the 70th Causeway Classic on Saturday, Nov. 23, against No. 5 UC Davis. The game against the Aggies will kickoff at 2 p.m.
• Prior to the contest, Sacramento State will recognize 18 seniors who will be playing their final home game at Hornet Stadium. Fans will also be treated to an Air Force flyby following the national anthem (weather permitting).
• The Hornets dropped to 3-8 on the season and 1-6 in the Big Sky Conference following a heart-breaking 26-23 loss at Cal Poly last Saturday. Sacramento State appeared poised to at least force overtime and then looked like it would win the game in the closing seconds. Instead, Carson Conklin had the ball jarred loose as he neared the goal line and it was eventually recovered by the Mustangs.
• Hornet fans can tune in to ESPN 1320 AM to hear the radio call of Dave Lewis, Steve McElroy 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+ and aired on KMAX 31 with Jason Ross (play-by-play) and Darren Arbet (analyst).

OPPONENT PREVIEW: UC DAVIS

• UC Davis had its nine-game winning streak snapped with a 30-28 loss to No. 2 Montana State. The Aggies led 8-0 after their first drive but then surrendered 30-straight points to the Bobcats. UC Davis rallied to score three touchdowns in the final 6:21 of the game and had a chance to tie the contest before a two-point try was intercepted.
• The Aggie offense has averaged 34.6 points per game and has been led by its two dynamic seniors who are both  in the running for Big Sky Player of the Year. Running back Lan Larison is averaging 106.6 rushing yards per game and has 11 rushing TDs. Larison has also caught a team-best 54 passes for 686 yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Miles Hastings has passed for 3,347 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 69.0 percent of his passes.
• David Meyer leads UC Davis with 95 tackles on defense. Meyer also has three interceptions. Brothers Rex and Porter Connors are second and third on the team with 79 and 61 stops, respectively.
• Tim Plough is in his first year as the team's head coach. The former Aggie quarterback previously served as an assistant at UC Davis, Northern Arizona, Boise State and Cal. While at Northern Arizona (2013-16), Plough worked with Sacramento State head coach Andy Thompson. 

A LOOK AT THE LATEST ACTION

• A game-winning drive for Sacramento State fell less than a yard away from happening as Cal Poly forced and recovered a fumble just outside the goal line in the closing seconds to secure a 26-23 win at Spanos Stadium.
• The teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 23-23. After both teams forced punts, the Hornets appeared poised to score when Anderson Grover used a 12-yard punt return to take the ball near midfield. The Hornets drove to the Mustang 35-yard line before Carson Conklin was strip sacked by Soni Finau and the ball was recovered by Mikey D'Amato. Eight plays later, Noah Serna made his fourth field goal of the game to give Cal Poly a three-point lead with 5:07 remaining.
• Sacramento State had one final drive in its arsenal. The team converted a 4th-and-2 and later a 4th-and-1 to keep the drive alive early in the series. A roughing the passer penalty moved the ball to the Cal Poly 31 with just over two minutes remaining. Two completions to Jared Gipson moved the ball to the 17-yard line and took the ball inside the red zone. Following an incompletion, Conklin was flushed from the pocket but had open space in front of him. The redshirt freshman scrambled through the middle of the field but was hit by Jeremiah Bernard just in front of the goal line. The ball was jarred loose, bounced sideways through the hands of a Hornet, and was eventually recovered by Mason Rivera.
• The loss spoiled a career game for Jared Gipson. The senior caught 11 passes for 130 yards as part of the 308 passing yards from Conklin. Prior to Saturday, Gipson had never caught more than six passes in a game. The performance came a year after he had 154 receiving yards against the Mustangs. Anderson Grover added seven receptions for 63 yards and a score.
• Conklin set a career high with 33 completions on 51 attempts. His completions are tied for the seventh most by a Hornet while his attempts are tied for the fourth most and the highest since 2021.

SENIOR SEND OFF

• Prior to the start of Saturday's game, Sacramento State will recognize 18 seniors who will be appearing  at Hornet Stadium for the final time.
• Among the group are five players who have spent their entire collegiate career at Sacramento State and have been part of three conference titles and four NCAA FCS Playoff appearances. On the other side are three players (Murvin Kenion III, Will Leota and Colby Warkentin) who are in their first season with the team.
• The class is headlined by All-American Jackson Slater and wide receiver Jared Gipson. Both players have been contributors since their freshmen seasons and will leave Sacramento State as one of the best at their position in school history. 
• Eight members of the class have already earned their bachelor's degree from Sacramento State.

Below is a complete list of the 2024 senior class:
 

CAUSEWAY CLASSIC FACTS

• Despite this being the 70th Causeway Classic, Saturday's game will be the 71st 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 672,219 fans over the past 69 years. The three largest Sacramento State football crowds have come against UC Davis. In 2022, a school-record 23,073 packed Hornet Stadium. In 1999, 20,993 attended the game while the 2019 contest drew 19,882.
• While being played on both campuses, the Causeway Classic has also been held at the Grant Bowl, Hughes Stadium and at Mackey Stadium in Reno, Nev., in 2018. That game was forced to move from Davis to Reno just days prior the scheduled date due to poor air quality caused by the Camp Fire.

TURNOVER TIDBITS

• Sacramento State forced its 19th turnover of the year in unique fashion. The Hornets were forced to punt on 4th-and-4 and Cal McGough's effort bounced off the head of a Mustang 38 yards down the field. The loose ball was gathered in by true freshman Phoenix Rose and help set up the team's first touchdown of the game.
• The special teams takeaway was the first of the year for the Hornets who have now recovered 10 fumbles and intercepted nine passes during the year and are tied for 21st 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. 
• Nine 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, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble this year. Josh Cashiola leads the team with three forced fumbles despite missing four games. Eian Moore and Fata Puloka each have two forced fumbles.
• On the other side, Sacramento State has committed 23 turnovers which is tied for 117th 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 11 fumbles and thrown 12 interceptions.
• Compounding the problem has been the result of the turnovers. In all 11 games, Sacramento State has turned the 21 turnovers forced into six touchdowns and two field goals. The oppositions owns eight touchdowns and three field goals on its 23 turnovers created. The numbers are more staggering in Big Sky Conference games where the Hornets have two touchdowns and one field goal off turnovers forced and have given up six touchdowns and a field goal 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-4 turnover ratio (-0.36 per game) is tied for 88th in the FCS. 

SHUFFLING THE PIECES

• Sacramento State started its fifth different variation on the offensive line this season when it faced Cal Poly. An injury to Joey Wright at right tackle forced Aidan Meek to return to the position from guard and inserted Bryson Summers into the starting lineup for the first time this year.
• Sacramento State has started nine different players on the offensive line through 11 games. 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 was injured in training camp. Sawyer Hays has 11 starts split between 10 at left tackle and one at right tackle and Meek has nine starts at right tackle and two at right guard.
• The team is currently without the services of three players who were scheduled to be in the starting lineup at the beginning of the year in All-Americans Jackson Slater and Nathan Mejia as well as guard Jose Soto.
• The defensive line hasn't fared much better in terms of avoiding injuries. Ben Ahio is the only member of the projected starting four at the beginning of the year who appeared against Cal Poly.
• To give some context, the Hornets started the same defensive front for all 12 games during 2021 and had the same O-line starters for eight of the final nine games. In 2022, the team started the same five on the offensive line for every regular season game and had three of four defensive linemen start all 13 games and a fourth start 11 contests. Last season, Sacramento State also started eight players on the offensive line during the year with All-Americans Jackson Slater and Nathan Mejia starting every game at left guard and center, respectively. On defense, the team used six starters with the same four starting the final eight games of the year.

MAKING THE MOST OF THE CHANCE

• Linebacker Derek Houston earned his second consecutive start at linebacker and led the team with nine tackles against Cal Poly. The total was a career high for the redshirt freshman, topping his previous best of eight set against Portland State.
• Defensive tackle Pate Haunga added a career-best six stops, including four solos at Cal Poly. Haunga had never had more than four tackles in his time with the Hornets.
• Linebacker Will Leota remains the team leader with 86 total tackles this season. Leota was credited with six stops against the Mustangs and has posted five or more tackles in the last 10 games. 
• If Leota is able to get 14 tackles in the Causeway Classic, he will become the first Hornet to reach 100 tackles in a season since Immanuel Anderson had 107 in 2016. Leota 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 299 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.

TERRIFIC TRIO

• The wide receiver trio of Anderson Grover, Jared Gipson and Danny Scudero continued their strong season as the three combined to catch 21 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns at Cal Poly. The trio was led by Gipson who set a career best with 11 receptions and had 130 yards against the Mustangs while Grover and Scudero each had touchdown catches.
• Gipson has caught at least one pass in 41 career games, including the last 15. Against the Mustangs, he passed  Shane Harrison and Isiah Hennie and now ranks sixth in school history with 143 career receptions.  The senior is also sixth in school career history with 2,165 receiving yards.
• This season, Gipson has had at least three receptions in 10 of 11 games and has had 70 or more receiving yards in four contests. His season high of 138 yards came at Fresno State and was aided by a 78-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown.
• The Stockton, Calif., native leads the team with 52 receptions for 744 yards and seven receiving scores.
• 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.
• Grover has caught at least two passes in the 10 games he's played this season and has five-plus receptions in five games. He ranks second on the team with 680 yards, 49 receptions, five receiving touchdowns, and 13.9 yards per reception.
• Scudero caught three passes at Cal Poly and now has 46 receptions on the year. He surpassed 500 receiving yards on the season at Montana State 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 73 receiving yards in the Causeway Classic, the trio would become just the third 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.

YOUNG GUN

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Carson Conklin set career highs for completions and attempts while recording the fourth 300-yard passing game of his career. At Cal Poly, Conklin completed 33-of-51 passes for 308 yards with two touchdowns. The 33 completions tie him for seventh in school single-game history and were the most by a Hornet freshman. His completions were the most by a Sacramento State QB since Asher O'Hara had 53 against UNI in 2021. Prior to the game, Conklin's previous highs were 32 completions and 47 attempts against Weber State earlier this year.
• The 308 passing yards marked his third 300-yard game this year, the fourth of his career and his second against Cal Poly. Last season, Conklin amassed 313 passing yards in the Mustangs as part of his four games while redshirting. This year, Conklin has passed for 357 yards against Weber State and 314 against Portland State. His efforts at Cal Poly marked his first 300-yard passing game away from home.
• Conklin has thrown for 2,487 yards this season and needs 265 yards against UC Davis to surpass Ryan Leadingham's school freshman record of 2,752 passing yards. Conklin already owns the school freshman record with 23 passing touchdowns and has 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 then-career bests breaking his previous marks of 22 completions, 37 attempts and 313 yards.
• 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 nine true and redshirt quarterbacks that qualify for the NCAA FCS statistics, Conklin leads the subdivision in completions, pass attempts, yards and touchdowns.

KICKING IT

• Zach Schreiner accounted for 11 of the team's 23 points at Cal Poly as the senior kicker made three field goals and added two extra points. Schreiner has now kicked three field goals in four games during his career, including three this season.
• Against Cal Poly, Schreiner was successful on field goals of 45, 48 and 27 yards. The 45 and 48-yarders were his second and third longest makes of his career, trailing only a 49-yarder at Northern Arizona.
• This season, Schreiner is now 18-of-22 on field goal attempts and an impressive 8-of-9 on kicks between 40-49 yards 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 eight makes of 40-plus yard field goals ties him with Kyle Sentkowski for the most in school single-season history. Sentkowski also went 8-of-9 in 2021. Schreiner's 11 career field goals of at least 40 yards rank third all-time at Sacramento State behind Scott Brown (1996-99) and Sentkowski (2019-22) who each had 15.
• Schreiner now has 90 points on the season and is just one point shy of cracking the school single-season top 10. His mark of 91 points from last season currently ranks 10th.
• Schreiner is now 18-of-22 on field goal attempts this season and has made 14 of his last 16. His 18 field goals are the second most by a Hornet, trailing only the 21 from Sentkowski in 2022.
• He is tied for third in the FCS this season with 1.64 field goals per game and is tied for second with 18 made field goals. The FCS leader in field goals is Southeast Missouri State's DC Pippin who has made 26-of-34 attempts (2.36 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.
• With two PATs against Cal Poly, the senior is now 85-of-85 on extra points in his career. Dating back to 2019, three Sacramento State kickers have combined to make 218 consecutive PATs. The team's last missed extra point came at Montana State on Oct. 12, 2019.

READY TO GET BACK ON TRACK

• With just 21 rush attempts as a team at Cal Poly, running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver was held to a season-low 33 yards on 13 carries.
• Tau-Tolliver had rushed for at least 94 yards in three consecutive games before leaving the Idaho State contest with an injury late in the first half. Since that point, he has missed the contests against Portland State and was held to just 43 yards at No. 2 Montana State.
• The junior is still averaging 90.2 yards per game and needs 98 yards to surpass 1,000 rushing yards this season.
• Tau-Tolliver owns six 100-yard games in his career which places him into a four-way tie for 10th place in school history. This season, he has rushed for 110 yards at San Jose State, 111 against Nicholls, 127 at East Texas A&M, 141 against Weber State and 100 at Idaho State.
• 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. 
• 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.

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

• Sacramento State has won three of the past four Causeway Classics and four of the last six.
• One of the two teams claimed at least a share of the Big Sky championship from 2018-22. However, the only year both have made the FCS Playoffs was in 2021. That season, the teams would have met in the second round had UC Davis won at South Dakota State.
• Only two of the last 10 meetings has been decided by one score. Sacramento State won 52-47 in 2017 and 27-21 in 2022. Prior to that each of the games between 2009-12 were decided by seven points or less.

CONNECTIONS

• Sacramento State starting center Kaden Richardson began his collegiate career at UC Davis before transferring to the Hornets and playing for his father, Kris.
• The Sac-Joaquin Section will be well represented between the two teams as 38 Hornets and 15 Aggies played their high school ball in the section.
• Sacramento State offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bobby Fresques and defensive graduate assistant Taylor Powell are the only Hornet coaches to have played in the Causeway Classic. The team went 2-1 between 1990-92 when Fresques played and won 27-7 in Powell's one season (2021).
• Tim Plough (2004-07) and Mike Cody (2010-11) are the only members of the UC Davis staff to play in the game.