Sacramento State

FRESNO, Calif. — The Sacramento State football team dropped to 1-2 on the season with a 49-3 loss to Fresno State at Valley Children's Stadium on Saturday night. The Bulldogs improved to 1-1.
 
After the two teams played a scoreless first quarter, Fresno State exploded for 32 points in the second quarter. The Bulldogs scored on passing touchdowns of 18 and 73 yards and rushing plays of 1 and 11 yards in the quarter. The half was capped by a 51-yard field goal from Manaki Watanabe as the half expired.
 
The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 39-0 with a 5-yard touchdown from Bryson Donelson on their first drive of the second half. The Hornets got on the board with a 35-yard field goal from Grant Meadors before Donelson added a 56-yard rushing TD to give him three scores on the night.
 
"We gave up a couple of big plays in the passing game which is uncharacteristic for us," Sacramento State head coach Alonzo Carter said. "We didn't respond in the way I expect us to and it's disappointing. We have to flush it and move forward because it's not going to get any easier."
 
Fresno State finished the game with 542 yards of total offense compared to 262 by the Hornets. Mandal was an efficient 23-of-26 for 316 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for one. Ezekiel Avit (103) and Josiah Freeman (100) each eclipsed 100 receiving yards.
 
Jackson Sharman made his second consecutive start at quarterback and finished 15-of-31 for 150 yards. Onterrio Smith Jr. led the team with four receptions for 66 yards while five running backs combined for 112 rushing yards, with 48 from Jamar Curtis.
 
Sacramento State returns home to host North Dakota State on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. for a game which will air on ESPN. That contest will be the first of back-to-back home games for the team.