Sacramento State

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The first FBS game for Sacramento State saw the defense limit Eastern Michigan to 69 rushing yards and record a scoop and score for a touchdown while the special teams blocked a punt in a 28-17 loss at Eastern Michigan on Saturday night.
 
"(The team) didn't quit. They were down, they kept fighting," Sacramento State head coach Alonzo Carter said. "It wasn't pretty on offense but the defense played hard and special teams played hard. We scored a couple of times and had a chance of scoring more in the second half, but the kids, they fought, and I'm proud of them, and we'll be better. Trust me, we'll be better."
 
The beginning of the game was a defensive battle with the two teams trading punts for the majority of the first quarter. EMU picked up the first big plays with a pair of 25-yard completions in the final minutes of the quarter setting up a 5-yard scramble from quarterback Noah Kim to give the team a 7-0 lead 40 seconds into the second quarter.
 
The Hornets got on the scoreboard with a 40-yard field goal from Grant Meadors. The drive was set up by a blocked punt from true freshman Chakai Scott which was recovered by Caleb Reese at the Eagle 28-yard line.
 
Eastern Michigan answered quickly with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Kim to Kozy Isaac on a broken play. On the play, the Hornet defense flushed Kim out of the pocket but the fifth-year QB rolled to his right and remained behind the line of scrimmage to find the wide open Isaac. EMU added to its lead following a strip sack which was recovered at the Hornet 15-yard line and set up a 2-yard rush from Braydon Bennett.
 
The defense again stepped up for Sacramento State when Fata Puloka knocked the ball free from Kim and it was gathered out of the air by Xavier Williams who returned its 29 yards for a touchdown to make the score 21-10 with 54 seconds remaining in the half.
 
"I just came around the corner, I saw the ball in the air, and I went and used the skills that my brother gave me, and kind of just went," Williams said. "I was a little limpy, I was cramping for a little bit, and so I almost got caught, but I just saw the end zone, and told myself, I have to get there at least once."
 
Neither team scored in the second half but the Hornet offense began showing improvement as the unit more than doubled its first half performance.
 
The Eagles put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter on a 31-yard pass from Kim to Nick Deveraux in the right corner of the end zone. The Hornets followed with a 10-play, 74-yard touchdown drive which saw Carson Conklin complete three passes to Onterrio Smith, Jr. and true freshman Isaiah Ene rush for 44 yards on three carries, including a 1-yard touchdown.
 
Sacramento State finished the game with 270 yards of total offense with 221 coming through the air. Smith was the team's leading receiver with a career-high nine receptions for 88 yards. Ene had a team-high 44 rushing yards while Jamar Curtis added 25.
 
Boogsie Silvera tallied a team-high 13 tackles in his Sacramento State debut. Puloka and Alex Rocha both added sacks as part of the team's seven tackles for loss.
 
Sacramento State will have its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Mississippi Valley State at 7 p.m.