SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State could not overcome three first-half interceptions and 10 penalties in a 32-24 loss to Cal Poly on Saturday night at Hornet Stadium.
 
The loss dropped the Hornets to 2-3 overall while the Mustangs raised their record to 3-2. The game was the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams.
 
Sacramento State outgained Cal Poly, 426-381, and was led by a season-best 105 rushing yards from Rodney Hammond, Jr. But the trio of turnovers gave the Mustangs short fields and directly led to 14 points
 
Cal Poly kept a Hornet defense which entered the game leading the nation in sacks on its heels for the majority of the game, using a variety of screens as well as a strong rushing attack. Quarterback Bo Kelly made his first start of the season and completed 17-of-27 passes for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Tyrei Washington added 113 rushing yards with a touchdown.
 
Sacramento State scored the first points of the game when Hammond took a toss and threw to Sam Adams II for a 23-yard touchdown on the team's opening drive of the game.
 
The Mustangs took the lead five minutes later when Brian Dukes intercepted a pass in the middle of the field and ran it back for a 23-yard touchdown. Cal Poly tacked on a two-point conversion to take an 8-7 lead.
 
The advantage stretched to 18-7 at the end of the first quarter following a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Garrison and a 27-yard field goal from Gianluca Dimauro.
 
Sacramento State responded early in the second quarter when Cardell Williams found Ernest Campbell deep down the field for a 62-yard touchdown. The touchdown catch was Campbell's fourth of at least 50 yards in the last four games. The team then moved back ahead on a 15-yard keeper from Williams for his fourth score of the year.
 
However, it was the Mustangs who took a 25-21 lead into halftime following a 1-yard rush from Washington with 2:06 left in the half.
 
The only points in the third quarter belonged to Cal Poly when Garrison caught a 5-yard pass and was able to dive across the goal line.
 
A 30-yard field goal from Grant Meadors early in the fourth quarter made it a one-score game and the Hornets had chances to draw even late in the contest. The best opportunity came on its second-to-last drive as Sacramento State took the ball to the Cal Poly 35-yard line. The team picked up three yards and 3^rd-and-6 but a deep pass on fourth down was broken up just outside the end zone.
 
Not done yet, the Hornet defense forced a 3-and-out and the offense took over at their own 33-yard line. After moving the ball to the 48, Cal Poly secured the win with a sack from Mikey D'Amato as time expired.
 
Along with the 105 rushing yards from Hammond, Sacramento State received 93 yards from Damian Henderson II to help the team to 230 rushing yards. The defense was guided by Dylan Hampsten who had seven tackles, including 2.5 TFLs and a sack.
 
Cal Poly's D'Amato posted a game-high 19 tackles which is tied for the most in the series between the schools since 1984.
 
The Hornets will have a bye this upcoming weekend and will next play at Weber State on Oct. 11.