SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A slow start by the offense which saw the defense record a pair of interceptions and a third-down sack on the opening three series was matched by four consecutive offensive touchdowns to highlight the first scrimmage of fall camp for the Sacramento State football team.
 
The team practiced inside Hornet Stadium for the first time this season with temperatures at the start of the scrimmage north of 100 degrees. As it cooled outside, the offense began to warm up from a slow start to see the team incorporate all four quarterbacks in the scrimmage, 11 players have a rushing attempt and 16 catch at least one pass.
 
The defense took control early with Koa Akui stepping in front a deep pass down the left sideline on 3^rd-and-5 on the opening drive of the scrimmage. Miles Bailey followed with a third-down sack and then true freshman Lono Chouteau came up with a pick of his own. Overall, the defense surrendered just 45 yards of offense on the first 16 plays of the night (2.8 yards per play).
 
The unit continued to get stops on the next three drives, allowed three first downs but preventing the offensive from crossing midfield while starting at its own 25-yard line. The next series saw the offense move the ball down to the plus-34 yard line after a 17-yard completion to Jamar Curtis and 23 rushing yards on four combined carries from Savion Red and Rodney Hammond, Jr. However, it was Akui who stepped in front of a pass on 1^st-and-10 for his second pick of the night.
 
The offense regrouped and bounced back with four consecutive touchdowns. Sam Adams II started the drive with a 28-yard rush and Ernest Campbell caught a 21-yard pass to set up Cardell Williams rushing in from 6-yards out.  True freshman Jamar Malone guided the offense on a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive which was capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass to Agiye Hall. The drive was kept alive when Malone found fellow true freshman Elijah Huddle for a gain of 19-yards on 3^rd-and-10.
 
The momentum continued on the next series when Jaden Rashada needed just three plays to find the end zone. Rashada connected with Jordan Anderson for 12 yards, hit Gavin Thomson in stide down the sideline for 39 yards and ended the drive with a 24-yard pass to Red out of the backfield for the TD. The final touchdown in the series came from true freshma Jaquail Smith on a 1-yard run. Luke Sprague completed both his passes in the drive with a 13-yard pass to Trey Bass and a 42-yarder to Drey Garner.
 
A series of third-down plays followed ranging from 3^rd-and-2 to 3^rd-and-12. The defense was able to get off the field on 75 percent of the plays, including sacks from Brodie Tagalo and Syncere Massey.
 
The next period placed the offense just outside the red zone at the 22-yard line. The first drive needed just one play as Hammond broke free for a touchdown. Je'kob Jones came up with a fourth-down sack at the 5-yard line to stop the second drive and Joseph Firebaugh wrapped up the third series with a 44-yard field goal.
 
The final big play of the night came from a pair of freshmen when Malone scrambled on a 4^th-and-3 play and threw 39-yard down field where Garner was able to fight for the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.
 
The team will hold a second scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Hornet Stadium. The action is expected to get underway at 4:30 p.m.