Stepping back into the win column, the Sac State Hornets defeated the Montana State Bobcats 24-13 before a Homecoming audience of 11,958 at Fred Anderson Field on Saturday night.

The Hornets improved to 2-3 in Big Sky Conference play and 4-3 overall, while the Bobcats dropped to 0-6 overall.

“We were able to come back and get the victory,” said head coach John Volek, referring to last week’s 24-20 loss to Montana. “I’m really proud of this football team and I hope the students at Sac State are too.”

Senior running back Charles Roberts put Sac State on the board with a five-yard touchdown run eight minutes into the game.

Roberts rushed for 95 yards in 27 carries in the victory. With his performance, he became only the thirteenth player in college football history to pass the 6,000 yard mark.

“We took a few more chances in coverage (and focused on Roberts),” Montana State coach Mike Kramer said. “We were fortunate in containing Charles.”

Perhaps the key period of the game, was a goal line stand by Sac State. Montana State had the ball the on the Hornets’ one-yard line. On a third down run, Tommy Williams saved a touchdown with a nice hit, and forced a fumble that was recovered by his teammate Drew Bogetti on the fourth down attempt.

In the second quarter, tight end Jon Morrissey caught a five-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Ricky Ray. This gave the Hornets a 12-0 lead. They failed on a two-point conversion. In the game, the Hornets were unsuccessful on all four point after attempts.

Montana State then mustered a score of its own with just over one-minute left in the half. But Sac State took the momentum back with a 13-yard scoring strike from Ray to senior Scott Towne with nine seconds remaining in the half and the Hornets hit the locker room up 18-7.

The Bobcats started out the second half with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Farhaad Azimi to Aaron Den Hartog, pulling within 18-13.

Yet the Hornets responded once again and took a 24-13 advantage, this time with a 22-yard touchdown pass to senior Lamont Webb. Webb’s touchdown closed out the scoring in the game.