OGDEN, Utah — The Sacramento State football team endured a lengthy weather delay prior to the start of its game against Weber State but shook off the rust with a powerful rushing attack in a 55-27 win on a cold and rainy night at Stewart Stadium.
 
The Hornets rushed for 397 yards and seven touchdowns and added another TD on special teams on the way to a season-high in points. Quarterback Cardell Williams rushed for a career-high 139 yards and three scores, true freshman Jaquail Smith added 135 yards and two scores in his first significant college action and Rodney Hammond, Jr. rushed for 106 and a pair of TDs to become the first trio to each rush for over 100 yards in a game in school history. The team's yardage total was the second most in a game since rushing for 470 against Idaho State in 1999 and the rushing TDs also set a program single-game best.
 
Sacramento State's 55 points were the most in a Big Sky road game in school history and the highest total in any game since posting 63 against Incarnate Word in the 2022 FCS Playoffs.
 
Overall, the Hornets amassed 460 yards of total offense, averaged 7.67 yards per play and did not commit a turnover. The defense limited WSU to 301 total yards and was led by a career-high 12 tackles from Alex Rocha. The unit also combined for five TFLs and a pair of sacks.
 
The game started nearly two hours late as a thunderstorm rolled through during pregame warmups forcing the teams to the locker room. After the lightning cleared, the teams were given 45 minutes to warmup but they returned to a field with a kickoff temperature of 42 degrees and steady rain through the first half.
 
Weber State took an early lead on a 52-yard field goal but from there it was all Hornets for the remainder of the period. Williams rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns in the opening half, scoring on rushes of 10 and 51 yards — the latter coming on 4^th-and-1. In between his scores was a 14-yard TD from Hammond and Smith capped the half with a 13-yard scoring play for his first collegiate touchdown.
 
Sacramento State built on its lead early in the third quarter when Hammond battled his way in from 8-yards out to give the team a 35-10 lead.
 
Weber State was able to crawl back into the game beginning with a 48-yard field goal from Sloan Calder. The defense then stopped the Hornets on fourth down near midfield and the offense turned it into points on a 23-yard pass from Dijon Jennings to Chauncey Sylvester to make it a two-score game (35-19) with 1:37 left in the third quarter.
 
Sacramento State stretched its lead with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 3-yard rush from Williams for his third touchdown of the game. However, after a false start penalty the extra point attempt deflected off the upright ending a streak of a 226 consecutive makes for the team dating back to 2019.
 
The Wildcats again responded with a quick scoring drive of their own but the ensuing kickoff was returned 99 yards by Hammond for a touchdown. The score was longest return for Sacramento State since Tyrone Taylor also went 99 yards at Idaho State in 1996.
 
Smith added one final touchdown, scoring from 24-yards out. Prior to Saturday, Smith had two carries for one yard on the year. The Hornets have now have now had four different players rush for over 100 yards in a game this season comprised of Hammond (twice), Damian Henderson II, Williams and Smith.
 
Sacramento State returns home for a pair of games beginning next Saturday, Oct. 18, against Northern Colorado for Homecoming.