CHENEY, Wash. — A career-day from Rodney Hammond, Jr., and a stingy defense led Sacramento State to a 35-13 victory over Eastern Washington at a wet and windy Roos Field on Saturday.
 
For the second consecutive road game the Hornets faced tough weather with rain falling for most of the first quarter only to be replaced by wind gusts near 40 miles per hour. Sacramento State was able to overcome the elements by running 56 times for 376 yards and five touchdowns while attempting just six passes for 15 yards.
 
The victory lifted the Hornets back over .500 at 5-4 overall and 3-2 in Big Sky Conference games. EWU dropped to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in league play while having its three-game win streak snapped.
 
Hammond had a monster first quarter which saw him match his career game high with 145 yards and a touchdown. The senior's biggest rush in the quarter was a 61-yard scamper on the opening drive which set up a 1-yard rushing TD from Cardell Williams. Hammond closed the quarter with a 59-yard run on 3rd-and-5.
 
In between the Sacramento State touchdowns, EWU took a 10-7 lead after taking advantage of a pair of Hornet turnovers. Following an interception at the Hornet 30-yard line, the Eagles tied the game with a 5-yard pass from Nate Bell to Wilson Medina. Sacramento State then fumbled early in its next possession leading to a 51-yard field goal from Soren McKee to give Eastern its only lead with 7:36 remaining in the quarter.
 
The Hornets pushed their lead to 21-10 early in the second quarter when freshman Jaquail Smith managed to slide his way through heavy traffic on the right sideline and then exploded for a 45-yard touchdown. Hammond added his second rushing touchdown with a 7-yard carry with just over four minutes left in the half.
 
The final points of the half came from a 19-yard field goal from McKee as time expired. The drive was setup after the Eagles recovered their second fumble — and third turnover — of the half. Those turnovers combined with a failed onside kick attempt gave the Eagles four possessions in the half which began inside Hornet territory. The Hornet defense valiantly limited EWU to just 13 points on those series.
 
The defense came up with another big stop early in the third quarter. The Eagles started with another short field as a Hornet punt into the wind gave EWU the ball at their own 49-yard line. The team then moved the ball down the field and had 1st-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Koa Akui and Dylan Hampsten combined for a 3-yard tackle-for-loss on first down, Ricky Lee III dropped a receiver for a 1-yard loss after a completion on second down and Xavier Williams forced a hurry on third down. EWU elected to go for it on fourth down where Oscar Moore made the tackle just shy of the goal line.
 
Sacramento State posted the first points of the second half with a 29-yard rush from Smith right up the middle of the field for his second touchdown of the game. The carry propelled the team over 350 rushing yards in the game.
 
Eastern went up-tempo on the ensuing possession and took the ball into inside the Hornet 10-yard line. Again, Sacramento State rose to the occasion as Moore and Akui came up with a tackle just shy of the line to gain on fourth down at the 2-yard line.
 
Hammond finished the game with 22 carries for 208 yards and two touchdowns. That performance shattered his previous high of 145 yards which came against Boston College while playing for Pitt.
 
The defense limited Eastern Washington to just 38 rushing yards in the game. The Eagles did throw for 240 as freshman Jakel Shakel came on in relief of starter Nate Bell to complete 24-of-38 passes for 201 yards. Oscar Moore and Koa Akui tied for the team lead with eight stops each.
 
Sacramento State returns to the Pacific Northwest next weekend, playing at Portland State on Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.
 
NOTES

• Hammond became the 11th Hornet to rush for at least 200-yards in a game and the first since Cameron Skattebo had 201 at Eastern Washington on Oct. 15, 2022.
• Sacramento State posted its third game this season with multiple 100-yard rushers. The 1985 and 2022 teams are the only others to do it three times in a season.
• True freshman Jamar Malone made his collegiate debut at quarterback in the fourth quarter.
• The defense finished with five sacks with solos from Deven Wright, Dylan Hampsten, Jayland McGlothen, Miles Bailey and Syncere Massey.