Box Score RENO, Nev. — The Sacramento State football team was 137 seconds away from another FBS victory, saw its lead disappear and then twice looked to win the game only to have plays overturned in a wild finish of a 20-17 loss at Nevada on Saturday.
 
The Hornet defense forced its second fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter to give the team the ball back with 2:32 remaining, leading 17-13, and Nevada having one time out remaining. After a 3-yard run on first down which forced the Wolf Pack to call their final timeout, Cardell Williams had his arm hit as he threw and it was intercepted by Jonathan Maldonado who returned it 36 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
 
Sacramento State wasn't done as Williams had completions of 7, 10, 26 and 16 yards to take the ball to the Nevada 16 with 50 seconds showing. On 3^rd-and-3, Williams called his own number and rushed into the end zone for an apparent touchdown. However, a holding call negated the score and moved the ball to the 19-yard line. Williams then connected with tight end Jordan Williams for another score but a second holding call moved the ball back another 10 yards. Sacramento State then picked up five yards on a run and settled for a 41-yard field goal attempt which missed wide to the left with just eight seconds remaining.
 
The Hornets more than doubled their offensive output from the opening week, picking up 372 yards with 146 on the ground and 226 through the air. Cardell Williams was called upon in the second quarter after Jaden Rashada was the victim of a targeting penalty on a scramble. Williams completed 10-of-13 passes for 151 yards and had a TD and rushed for 26 yards.
 
Nevada was guided by Chubba Purdy as the QB had 144 passing yards and 115 rushing yards in the victory. However, Purdy was intercepted twice by Koa Akui during the game. The Wolf Pack finished the game with 412 yards of total offense but struggled completing drives deep in Hornet territory as they were stopped three times inside the 26-yard line.
 
Sacramento State scored the game's first points on a 3-yard rush from Rodney Hammond, Jr. five minutes into the first period. The team converted a fourth-down from its own half of the field to keep the drive alive and then saw running back Savion Red connect with Ajon Bryant for a big pass play to take the ball inside the Wolf Pack 5-yard line.
 
Grant Meadors added to the lead with a 35-yard field goal early in the second half. The 10-0 score held until Nevada got on the board with a 29-yard field goal from Joe McFadden. The Wolf Pack knotted the game, 10-10, when Chubba Purdy plunged in from 3-yards out to start a frantic final 62 seconds of the first half.
 
Following a Nevada touchback, Williams found Ernest Campbell over the middle of the field on the Hornets' first offensive play of the series and the wide receiver showcased his All-America track skills by bolting 75 yards for a touchdown on his first reception at Sacramento State.
 
The Wolf Pack immediately answered with a scoring drive to end the half. The series was capped by a 40-yard field goal from McFadden as time expired. Time appeared to run out on the play before the field goal but the officials put one second on the clock allowing the Wolf Pack to make it 17-13 at the break and providing the team with a critical three points.
 
Jamar Curtis was the leading rusher for Sacramento State with 39 yards and was one of six Hornets to with at least 10 rushing yards in the game. Campbell had a game-high 89 receiving yards on three catches.
 
For the second-straight week, Derek Houston led the team in tackles as the linebacker was credited with eight stops, including a TFL.
 
Sacramento State will return home to face Mercyhurst at Hornet Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m.

NOTES

• Akui became the first Hornet to have multiple interceptions in a game since Elias Mullican at East Texas A&M last season. Akui now has two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the first two games.
• Punter Cal McGough averaged 40.0 yards per punt, including landing a ball at the 1-yard line. McGough also picked up 13 yards on a fake punt from his own end zone.
• A week after recording 11 TFLs and seven sacks at South Dakota State, Purdly proved to be elusive as the unit was not credited with a sack and have five TFLs in the game.
• Sacramento State was facing Nevada for the first time since 2004.