A BRIEF PREVIEW

• An unexpectedly difficult season for the Sacramento State football team will face an additional challenge as it travels to Montana State on Saturday, Nov. 9. The game against the second-ranked Bobcats will start at 12 p.m. PT.
• Facing a top five opponent is not new for the Hornets. Sacramento State is 3-19 all-time against teams in the top five with all three wins coming since 2019 against teams ranked fifth.
• The Hornets dropped to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in Big Sky games following a 58-38 setback against Portland State at Hornet Stadium. Redshirt freshman quarterback Carson Conklin threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns while Anderson Grover had 134 receiving yards and Jared Gipson caught a pair of touchdowns. Unfortunately, the team was unable to stop PSU QB Dante Chachere who rushed for 165 yards and four scores and threw for 245 yards and a touchdown.
• Hornet fans can tune in to ESPN 1320 AM to hear the radio call of Jason Ross, 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 on KMAX 31 and streamed on ESPN+ with Ben Creighton (play-by-play), Ty Gregorak (analyst) and Grace Lawrence (sideline).

OPPONENT PREVIEW: MONTANA STATE

• Montana State remained unbeaten with a 42-28 road win at Eastern Washington on Saturday. The Bobcats are 9-0 this season, including a season-opening win at New Mexico. The team is 27-2 in Big Sky Conference games dating back to the 2021 season with both losses coming to Montana.
• MSU leads the FCS in scoring offense (41.7 ppg), and total offense (510.4 yards per game) and is second in rushing offense (313.2 ypg). Quarterback Tommy Mellott has completed 69.2 percent of his passes with 19 touchdowns and just one interception. Mellott has also rushed for 546 yards and eight scores. Scottre Humphrey leads the team with 1,062 rushing yards (118.0 ypg) and has 12 rushing TDs.
• The defense has also done its part as the Bobcats rank eighth in the FCS in total defense (293.9 ypg) and ninth in scoring defense (17.6). Both of those numbers are the best in the Big Sky this season.  McCade O'Reilly is the top tackler on the team with 50 stops, including 6.5 for loss and a pair of sacks. 
• Brent Vigen is in his fourth season as the team's head coach where he owns a 41-9 overall record.
• MSU leads the all-time series, 18-8. Sacramento State has won twice in Bozeman, Mont. The first came in 1991 when current Hornet offensive coordinator Bobby Fresques was the quarterback.

REMEMBER YOUR FIRST TIME

• Redshirt freshman tight end Jayden Flaig joined the small club 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 has missed three games this year, including the last two with an ankle injury. 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 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.

BUCKING THE TREND

• The last two games has seen some statistical trends come to an end for Sacramento State. The Hornets had been 19-1 since 2019 when holding an opponent to less than 60 percent completion percentage. Portland State's Dante Chachere only connected on 14-of-27 passes (51.9 percent) but was able to rush for 165 yards and four TDs to earn a win. The only team to be victorious during that span was South Dakota State (2021).
• The loss at Idaho State went against the probability of a Hornet victory in three categories. Sacramento State had been 31-4 when outrushing its opponent since 2019. Although the Hornets outrushed the Bengals, 268-132, the team came up short in an overtime loss.
• Sacramento State was also 38-5 when having more total yards and 30-5 when leading time of possession during that same stretch. The team held advantages in both categories at Idaho State.
• The ISU game was the only one since 2019 where the team held an edge in all three stats but finished the game on the short side of the scoreboard.
• One strange streak continued against Portland State as Sacramento State is now 0-5 this season when winning the coin toss and is 3-1 when losing the toss. Dating back to 2019, the team is now 16-18 when winning the coin toss and an improbable 25-1 when losing the coin toss.

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 55 games this season.

Games
Projected Starter-Position-Games Missed
Nathan Mejia-C-9
Xavier Williams-DT-9
Jose Soto-G-8
Kaleb Higgins-S-7
Kaiden Bennett-QB-7
DJ Houston-CB-4
Gavin Davis-Smith-NB-3
Brandon Knott-DT-3
Josh Cashiola-DE-2
Anderson Grover-WR-1
Danny Scudero-WR-1
Elijah Tau-Tolliver-RB-1

TURNOVER TIDBITS

• Although it did not create a turnover against Portland State, Sacramento State is still tied for the Big Sky lead and tied for 16th in the FCS with 17 turnovers created this year. The team has recovered eight fumbles and has nine interceptions while forcing a turnover in six of nine games.
• The team's nine interceptions have been spread out over six players. Will Leota joined Murvin Kenion III and Elias Mullican as the only players with two picks this year. 
• Seven 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 has also forced a fumble and is the only Hornet with an interception, fumble recovery and forced fumble.
• On the other side, Sacramento State has committed 20 turnovers which is tied for 120th 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 11 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 Texas A&M-Commerce.
• Overall, the team's turnover minus-3 turnover ratio (-0.33 per game) is tied for 83rd in the FCS. 

READY TO GET BACK ON TRACK

• For his second consecutive game, Elijah Tau-Tolliver needed just one half to rush for 100 yards in a game. Tau-Tolliver earned 127 yards and three touchdowns on 13 first-half carries against Weber State 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. He did not play in the game against Portland State.
• 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 Texas A&M-Commerce. 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 has already accounted for more yards this season (826) than he did a year ago (387). His touchdown at Idaho State gave him seven this season and matched his output from last season. Tau-Tolliver surpassed 1,000 career yards at Texas A&M-Commerce and entered the school top 20 list against Weber State.
• Tau-Tolliver needs 174 rushing yards to record the 16th 1,000-yard season in school history and is 277 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.

A VERY CAPABLE BACKUP

• In the event that Tau-Tolliver is unable to return to action at Montana State, redshirt freshman Curron Borders has proven to be more than capable. Borders became the 46th Hornet to record a 100-yard rushing game when he amassed 145 yards last Saturday at Idaho State.
• Borders was part of a lethal ground attack which slashed ISU for 299 rushing yards among four backs. Borders finished the game with 18 carries and averaged 8.1 yards per game to set career highs.
• 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.

CONKLIN CONTINUES TO POUR IT ON

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Carson Conklin had another monster game, passing for 314 yards and four touchdowns against Portland State. During the game, Conklin 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 237.0 passing yards per game over the final three 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 has now thrown a touchdown pass in all eight games this season and has multiple TDs in five games. He 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. Garrett Safron holds the school record with seven touchdowns against Southern Oregon in 2013. Leadingham had six scores against Idaho State in 2003 and Kevin Thomson, Safron and Jeff Fleming each threw five TDs in a game.
• 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 16 passes for 214 yards and accounted for four touchdowns against Portland State. The trio was led by Grover who had a career-high eight receptions for 134 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown grab. Gipson added six grabs (tied career high) and scored a pair of touchdowns. Scudero caught two passes for 31 yards and also rushed for a 25-yard touchdown. 
• Grover has caught at least two passes in the eight games he's played this season and has five-plus receptions in four games. He ranks second on the team with five receiving touchdowns, 554 receiving yards and 14.6 yards per reception. He has combined to catch 16 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns in the last two home games.
• Gipson posted his ninth game of his career with at least six catches and finished with 49 yards. He had two receiving touchdowns for the second time in his career and moved into a tie for eighth place in school history with 15 career receiving scores.
• Gipson has caught at least one pass in 39 career games, including the last 13. 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, who is the fastest player on the team, showcased his speed in the first quarter 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.
• Scudero is 61 yards shy of getting to 500 this season. If he is able to do so, the trio will become just the fifth in the school's Div. I era (1994-pres.) to each have 500 receiving yards. The most recent occurrence was Pierre Williams (931), Elijah Dotson (702) and Marshel Martin (550) in 2019.

THIS IS 40-PLUS

• Zach Schreiner made a 41-yard field goal against Portland State and added five extra points to push his season total to a team-best 78 points this season.
• Schreiner is now 15-of-18 on field goal attempts this season and has made 11 of his last 12. 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 78 points this season. In just two years, Schreiner has scored 169 career points but is still 15 points shy of moving into the top 10 for scoring in school history.
• He is tied for fourth in the FCS this season with 1.67 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 20-of-28 attempts (2.22 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 and 27-yard which was blocked against Nicholls.
• 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 215 consecutive PATs. The team's last missed extra point came at Montana State on Oct. 12, 2019.

SEEING DOUBLE

• Linebacker Will Leota was credited with 11 tackles against Portland State to give him 11 games during his career with double-figure stops and four as a Hornet this season. Leota leads the team with 71 total tackles and is currently averaging 7.9 tackles per game which ranks sixth in the Big Sky. 
• If Leota is able to get 29 tackles over the final three games, he will become the first Hornet to reach 100 tackles in a season since Immanuel Anderson had 107 in 2016. He is also the team leader 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 284 career tackles, including 21.5 for loss.
• Joining Leota in double digits against the Vikings was safety Eian Moore who set his career high with 11 tackles. Moore's previous high was eight set in 2022. Four other players have 10+ tackles this year comprised  of linebacker Nakian Jackson (three times), defensive tackle Brandon Knott and nickelback Davion Ross.

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. 

MOVING PIECES, SAME RESULT

• The Hornet offensive line may be bruised and battered, but the unit managed to record another game without allowing sack this season. The unit has posted a clean sheet against Fresno State, Nicholls, Eastern Washington and PSU.
• Sacramento State has started seven different players on the offensive line through nine games and has seen two others receive significant snaps. Only Jackson Slater (left guard) and Kaden Richardson (center) have started every game at the same position. Sawyer Hays has nine starts split between eight at left tackle and one at right tackle and Aidan Meek has eight starts at right tackle and one at right guard.
• The Hornets currently rank 11th in the FCS and third in the Big Sky with 1.00 sacks allowed per game. 

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 Texas A&M-Commerce. 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.
• Despite not having a sack last week against PSU, Sacramento State remains the Big Sky leader with 2.44 sacks per game. The Hornets had recorded a sack in every game this year prior to facing the Vikings. Twelve players have been credited with a sack led by 3.5 from Mason Brosseau.

SERIES NOTES

• Sacramento State and Montana State first met in the 1964 Camellia Bowl which was won by the Bobcats, 28-7, at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento.
• The Hornets recorded a pair of wins as an NCAA Div. II team over MSU in 1991 and 1992.
• The 2023 matchup was televised by ESPN2.

CONNECTIONS

• Sacramento State safety Carter Kraft is from Shelby, Mont., and his father Shawn played for Montana State .
• MSU has 10 players on its roster from California. Included in that list is offensive guard JT Reed who played at College of San Mateo where current Hornets Malini Ti'a, Amari Roberson and Ezra Moleni played.
• Montana State Director of Football Administration Jerry Anderson is a Sacramento State graduate and served as an intern in the athletics compliance department.