It wasn’t easy, but nobody ever said that it would be.

For the first time since 1998, Sac State football has won a Big Sky Conference road game, as it went to Eastern Washington on Saturday and took home a 25-22 victory.

Junior Jimmy Sanchez kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired and Sac State improved its overall record to 5-3, and 3-3 in conference action. Eastern Washington fell to 4-4 and 3-2 in the Big Sky.

In the win, Sac State’s senior running back Charles Roberts rushed for 90 yards on 22 carries, and he scored one touchdown. His effort boosted his career yardage to 6,091, good enough to pass Tony Dorsett for 13th place on the all-time college-rushing list.

The Eagles, who had won the previous eight games versus the Hornets, scored first with a 25-yard field goal in the first quarter.

But in the second quarter, Roberts and fullback Mike Wooster made long receptions, and back-up quarterback Garrett White ran in a touchdown from one-yard out to give Sac State a 7-3 lead. White replaced quarterback Ricky Ray when the Hornets neared the goal line.

Eastern Washington scored a touchdown with 14 seconds to go in the half when Lamont Brightful scored on a 13-yard run to give the Eagles 9-7 lead.

In the second half, Roberts ran in an eight-yard touchdown, and senior tight end Jon Morrissey caught the two-point conversion from Ray, putting Sac State ahead 15-9. The touchdown was set up with an interception by sophomore defensive back Brandon Coleman, who also picked off a pass in the first half.

After an Eagle field goal, Brightful caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Fred Salanoa and Eastern Washington held a 19-15 advantage with 14 minutes left in the game.

Seven minutes later, Ray scored on a quarterback sneak for Sac State, giving his team a 22-19 lead.

Eastern Washington tied the score on a field goal with just under four minutes remaining in the game, but leaving time for Sac State to go for the winning score proved to be a costly mistake.

Immediately, Ray connected with senior receiver Scott Towne on a 43-yard pass, putting Sac State at Eastern Washington’s 26-yard line. After that, the Hornets moved the ball inside the 10-yard line and Sanchez won the game with his field goal.