Sacramento State

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The first win of the FBS era for Sacramento State was a dominant one for the Hornets as the team blew past Mississippi Valley State, 52-0, on Saturday night at Hornet Stadium. The game was played in front 18,523 fans which accounts for the largest season-opening crowd and the fifth-largest overall in program history.
 
Sacramento State controlled every facet of the contest as the team compiled 453 yards of offense, limited MVSU to 147 total yards, blocked a punt and recovered an onsideskick. Quarterback Jackson Sharman made his first career start as a Hornet and finished 18-of-28 for 247 yards and four scores. Three of those were to wide receiver Matt Coleman who wrapped up the game with 141 yards on six catches. Three players also rushed for touchdowns.
 
The shutout was the first overall for the team since a 34-0 win at East Texas A&M in 2024, the first at home since downing Northern Arizona, 44-0, in 2021 and the largest margin of victory in a shutout since a 60-0 victory against Cal Lutheran in 1988.
 
Sacramento State scored in all four quarters and held a 14-0 lead after the first. The team's first touchdown was set up by a blocked punt from freshman Chakai Scott (his second in as many weeks) and recoverd by Caleb Reese at the 9-yard line. That play led to a 5-yard pass from Sharman to Coleman. The second score came on a 1-yard run from Jamar Curtis for his first TD of the year.
 
The Hornets added 17 points in the second quarter to take a 31-0 lead into halftime. Grant Meadors made a 25-yard field goal, Coleman caught a 19-yard pass and Jace Wilson found the end zone for the first time in his career with 28 seconds left in the half.
 
Coleman accounted for the only touchdown of the third quarter with a 63-yard bomb down the right sideline. That score made him the first Hornet with three receiving TDs in a game since Pierre Williams against Southern Oregon in 2019. Sharman also matched the school record of four passing touchdowns in a player's first start at Sacramento State.
 
The fourth quarter scoring began with a 43-yard TD rush from quarterback Jaylen Patterson on his first touch as a Hornet. Newcomer Daniel Swinney added a 3 -yard rushing TD and finished the game with a team-high 58 rushing yards.
 
The Hornet defense stymied the Delta Devils passing attack, limiting the team to 9-of-19 for 43 yards. Mississippi Valley also averaged just 3.1 yards per rush and finished the game 2.8 yards per play.
 
For the second-consecutive week, safety Boogsie Silvera led the team in total tackles. Silvera had seven stops and was followed by Derek Houston and Malik Tullis who had four. Four players had sacks in the game as part of the team's seven TFLs.
 
Sacramento State will next play at Fresno State on Sept. 12 before returning home to host North Dakota State on Sept. 19. The game against the Bulldogs will make the Hornets' first appearance on CBS Sports Network while the NDSU game will be the first for Sacramento State on ESPN.
 
NOTES

• Sacramento State played 72 players in the game, including three quarterbacks.
• Eight players had rushing attempts, nine caught passes and 29 were credited with a tackle.
• The game was the fourth all-time for the Hornets against an HBCU and the first since 1990.
• The team's recovery of the onside kick was the first for Sacramento State since 2022.