1. It's So Hard To Say Goodbye
Prior to Saturday's game, Sacramento State will recognize 18 seniors who will be playing their final game with the Hornets. The group is anchored by wide receiver
Jared Gipson, nickelback
Gavin Davis-Smith, offensive linemen
Kaden Richardson and
Jackson Slater and defensive tackle
Brandon Knott. All five have been an active part of the team since the 2021 season and helped the Hornets to three FCS playoff appearances and two league titles. Together, the group has appeared in 227 games and has started 132. Slater will leave the Hornets tied for the school record with 44 consecutive starts while Richardson played in all but one game during his four years — only missing the playoff game against Incarnate Word because the Hornets never punted in the contest.
Â
2. First Time Foes, Longtime Friends
Sacramento State's
Andy Thompson and UC Davis' Tim Plough will face off against one another for the first time on Saturday but are far from strangers. The pair served on the staff at Northern Arizona from 2013-16 with Thompson coordinating the Lumberjack defense and Plough running the NAU offense. Thompson told media this week that the two relied on each other so much while in Flagstaff that Plough was trusted to care for Thompson's oldest son while he and his wife went to the hospital for the birth of their second son.
Â
3. To The Next Level
The CFL season came to a close on Nov. 17 when Toronto downed Winnipeg, 41-24, win the 111
th Grey Cup. The Argos got there with a 30-28 win over top-seeded Montreal in the Eastern finals. Former Hornet Darnell Sankey tied for the Montreal team lead in tackles in that game. Sankey finished the year ranked third in the CFL with 107 total tackles. McLeod Bethel-Thompson was second in the CFL with 24 passing touchdowns and ranked fifth in the league with 3,748 passing yards.
Â
In the NFL, Marte Mapu has become a regular in the secondary for the New England Patriots. Mapu has recorded 27 total tackles over the last six games, including a high of seven against the Miami Dolphins, and has played at least 77 percent of the defensive snaps in five of those contests. DeAndre Carter remains the primary punt and kicker returner with the Chicago Bears. Carter is averaging 10.3 yards per punt return and 31.3 yards per kick return this year. He has also caught nine passes as a wide receiver.
Â
4. Honorary Captain
Former Hornet defensive end Zack Nash will return to campus and serve as the team's honorary captain. Nash, who is currently a Vacaville police officer, will speak to the team on Friday night and take part in pregame activities on Saturday. Nash was a two-time FCS All-American and two-time first team all-Big Sky selection during his time with the Hornets (2007-11). He left Sacramento State as the career leader with 29.5 sacks and added 40.5 career TFLs which currently places him sixth in the Hornet record book. Nash played the 2012 season with the Arizona Cardinals before beginning his law enforcement career.
Â
5. How To Follow The Action
If you can't make it to Hornet Stadium, there are several options keep track of what is going on. This week's game will be streamed on ESPN+ and shown locally on KMAX 31 with Jason Ross and former Hornet Darren Arbet calling the action. Fans can also listen in on ESPN 1320 as well as online and on the Audacy app to Dave Lewis, Steve McElroy and Danny Sullivan.
Bonus Fact #1
Check out the helmets which will be worn this week by Sacramento State and were designed by Wilton Rancheria.
Bonus Fact #2
If you trust your local meteorologist, the weather looks like it should be ideal come kickoff on Saturday. As of Friday afternoon, the last chance of rain is expected to be done before noon on game day. As a reminder for fans coming to the game, Sacramento State has a clear bag policy at Hornet Stadium.
