Sacramento State

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Isaiah Ene rushed for a career-high 107 yards and the Sacramento State defense recorded five takeaways to lift the team to a 31-10 victory over Kent State on Friday night at Hornet Stadium.
 
The victory was the first Mid-American Conference win in program history and gave the team a 2-7 overall record and 1-5 mark this season in MAC games. The Golden Flashes dropped to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in league games.
 
Trailing 10-6 at the half, Sacramento State outscored Kent State, 25-0, over the final two quarters. Grant Meadors pulled the team within one with his third field goal of the game with 4:35 remaining in the quarter. After a 3-and-out by the defense and a 19-yard punt return by Jamar Curtis, Ene ripped off a 35-yard touchdown run which also gave him 100 rushing yards in the game.
 
Donovan Turner started the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown. The pick six was the first for Sacramento State this season and the first time Turner found the end zone since his senior year of high school at Long Beach Poly in 2021. The defense forced a turnover on downs late in the fourth quarter and Ene put a ribbon on the game with a 5-yard rush for a score.
 
"Tonight was the complimentary football we've been looking for," Sacramento State head coach Alonzo Carter said. "I'm so happy for the players. They've put the work in all season and now they can walk on campus with their heads up."
 
The Golden Flashes took the initial lead of the game when quarterback Dru DeShields was flushed from the pocket in his own end zone but found Wayne Harris near midfield. Harris broke away from the defender and finished the play with a 92-yard touchdown — the longest for Kent State this season.
 
Sacramento State threatened several times in the half but settled for 42- and 28-yard field goals from Meadors to make it 7-6. Tommy Newcomb capped the first half scoring with a 29-yard field goal as time expired.
 
The Hornets finished the game with 278 yards of total offense with 161 coming on the ground. The team's running backs combined to average 4.14 yards per carry.
 
The defense had its best showing of the season against an FBS opponent, limiting the Golden Flashes to 93 rushing yards and 209 through the air. Aside from the 92-yard touchdown, Kent State was 16-of-37 for 117 yards and threw two interceptions.
 
The five takeaways were the most by Sacramento State since also having five at Incarnate Word on Sept. 7, 2017. Turner and Malachi Nichols each had interceptions while Fata Puloka forced a pair of fumbles and Xavier Williams another. Two of those fumbles were gathered in by Miles Bailey and Boogsie Silvera had the other to go along with his game-high 10 tackles.
 
Sacramento State will have a quick turnaround as the team returns to Hornet Stadium on Wednesday, Nov. 4, for a midweek MACtion game against Toledo at 4 p.m. The game will also be Senior Night where the team will recognize 26 players who will be playing their final home game.
 
NOTES

• Meadors now has 11 field goals on the season which leaves him two shy of ninth place in school history. His 23 career field goals rank ninth in the school record book.
• The last interception return for a touchdown by a Hornet came from Ricky Lee who went 34 yards against Northern Colorado on Oct. 18, 2025. Sacramento State now has an interception and fumble return for a score this season.
• The team's 34:07 of possession time was a season high.
• Sacramento State's 161 rushing yards are the third-most against an FBS opponent in school history.
• Punter Hamish Adams averaged 45.3 yards per punt on six attempts with a long of 55 but also had his first two touchbacks of the season after balls which landed inside the 5-yard line traveled into the end zone.
• The defense finished with two sacks but did tally 11 QB hurries including four from Xavier Williams and three from Tim Thomas Jr.