Winning their last four conference games, the Hornets kept their Big Sky playoff hopes alive with a 28-21 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday at Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff.

Sac State finished the year 7-4 overall, the most wins in Division I, as well as the best mark since 1992. The Hornets, after dropping three of their first four conference games, finished with a 5-3 record in conference play. Sac State head coach John Volek feels that the team, which he says is the best he has ever coached, can prolong its season with a little help on Saturday.

“We need Northridge to beat Portland State this week,” Sac State head coach John Volek said. “Weber State and us would then be tied for second.”

If this does happen, the Hornets have a shot at making the playoffs.

But even if the Hornets don’t make the post-season, the 7-4 mark is also quite an accomplishment.

“The best Division I record ever,” Volek said. “This is huge for us. In five years in the conference, for us to have come this far.”

In the win, senior running back Charles Roberts became the all-time Division I rushing leader with 187 yards in 25 carries, while also scoring two touchdowns. After becoming the Division 1AA leader two weeks ago, Roberts passed Ron Dayne, who set the Division IA record with Wisconsin last year, with his 6,553 rushing yards. There are only two rushers in college football history that have run for more yards than Roberts. They are R.J. Bowers, who had over 7,300 in Division III for Grove City, Penn., and Brian Shay of Division II, who ran for 6,958 for Emporia State.

“It’s a great feeling. Obviously it is something that I had my sights on for the last year,” Roberts said. “By far though, it wasn’t easy this year.”

Volek feels that Roberts’ efforts for Sac State should earn him the Walter Payton Award, something that Roberts has been nominated for the past two years.

“Charles deserves to be the Payton award winner for what he has done for college football and Sacramento State football,” Volek said. “The game, the season, and now the career yardage record.”

For his last game, the record was not the only thing that motivated Roberts.

“I came out and tried to compete hard in my last game,” he said. “I was very proud of how I ended my career.”

Roberts was also pleased with the way the team ended the season.

“This is a great starting point to the program,” Roberts said. “We wanted to finish with more than seven victories, but seven victories is not to bad.”

Another Hornet who put his name in the record book was senior Lamont Webb, who became Sac State’s career reception leader with 122 catches in his four years at Sac State. Webb also holds the career receiving record at Sac State with 1,834 yards. In what may have been his final game as a Hornet, Webb caught 10 passes from senior quarterback Ricky Ray, for 151 yards and a touchdown.

The Hornets scored touchdowns on their first four possessions, making a string of 13 of 15 going back to last week’s 64-61 victory over Cal State Northridge.

“Ball security. Not having the turnovers,” Volek said about the streak of touchdowns. “Guys starting to be within themselves and the system.”

On Sac State’s first drive, Webb caught a 29-yard pass, and Roberts ran the rest of the 21 yards to the end zone on the next play.

On the ensuing drive, Sac State senior Anthony Daisley deflected a backfield pass, which was recovered by Tyler Padovan at Northern Arizona’s 48-yard line. Webb and Roberts again highlighted the touchdown drive. Webb caught two first downs and Roberts became the most prolific runner in Division I, with a seven-yard run to the four-yard line. Ray capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, his tenth rushing score of the season, giving the Hornets a 14-0 lead.

The Lumberjacks fought back as Marcus King took off on runs of 27 and 36 yards on the next drive, before scoring from two yards out. King rushed for 199 yards on 28 carries, scoring three times in the loss.

This did not slow the Hornets’ offense however, as Roberts immediately busted an 80-yard touchdown run, breaking a tackle in the backfield before darting to the end zone. This put the Hornets up 21-7 heading into the second quarter.

“I knew the guy would try to strip me instead of tackling me,” Roberts said about switching the ball to his left hand before scoring. “I’d never run 80 yards before” (at Sac State).

In the second quarter, Webb again led the Hornets to the end zone with first down grabs, this time finishing off the drive himself with a 20-yard touchdown catch. Seventeen minutes into the game, Sac State led 28-7 and the offense left the rest of the game to the defense.

King capped an impressive first half with a touchdown just before halftime, cutting the Sac State lead in half.

On the Hornets’ first drive of the second half, the Lumberjacks’ Andrew Anthony intercepted a pass that bounced off of Webb, giving his team the ball at Sac State’s 29-yard line.

On the first play after the turnover, the Hornet defense gave up a 28-yard run to King and lost senior Anthony Daisley for the game, due to an injured ankle. The defense was already without linebackers Santi Hall and Lee Turner. Hall was attending the funeral of a close friend, and Lee Turner was injured in the game. On offense, senior receiver Scott Towne was out with a concussion, which he suffered last week.

After the long run, King made the score 28-21 with a one-yard touchdown run. The rest of the third quarter was dominated by both defenses. Senior cornerback Elton Gabourel led the Hornet defense with 13 tackles on the day.

Early in the fourth quarter, Northern Arizona added a field goal and George Aalele returned an interception to the Sac State 30-yard line. But on fourth and two from the Sac State 3-yard line, Seth Tago tipped a pass and handed the ball back to the Hornets.

The Hornets then marched down the field, using all 7:24 on the clock. On fourth and two from the 30-yard line, Ray connected with Webb on a great 28-yard pass with just over a minute left. This allowed the Hornets to run out the rest of the clock and get the victory.

“The resilience of these guys all year is fantastic,” Volek said. “A seven minute drive at the end of the game and an eight play (because of a penalty) goal line stand.”

With Weber State and Portland State losing on Saturday, the Hornets ensured at least a tie for second place in the conference with the win. Now they must hope for Portland State to lose again to have a chance at continuing their season.