After winning at home in come-from-behind fashion in its first game, Sacramento State seemed to be a different team when it took its act to the road.

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo jumped out of the gates and pummeled the Hornets early and often en route to a 55-21 shellacking of the visitors.

Seth Burford, the starting quarterback for the Mustangs, had his way with the Sac State defense. Burford threw for four touchdowns, ran for three more and completed 14 of 21 passes for 390 yards.

Head coach John Volek thought his team would have came out and played better after last week?s win against St. Mary?s College.

“I?m real disappointed,” Volek said. “The kids were really focused.”

Cal Poly dictated the game right from the start, when Burford hooked up with Adam Herzing on its first play from the line of scrimmage for a 45-yard reception. The opening drive was finished off when Burford found All-American Kassim Osgood in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard score.

With their potent ground attack, the Mustangs pummeled the Hornets defense in the first quarter, jumping out to a 27-0 end. Pounding the ball downfield was successful for the Mustangs, and getting good field position did not hurt their cause either.

“They were playing a short field and the long passes made it even shorter,” Volek said. “We didn?t make Poly play the entire field.”

The Hornets got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when running back Brett Collins ran one in from eight yards out, scoring his first collegiate touchdown. Just over three minutes later, the Mustangs scored again. After each of Sac State?s three scores, the Mustangs would came back and score, giving Sac State no chance at regaining any kind of momentum.

At the half, Cal Poly held a 41-7 advantage. Volek went into the locker room with a few more injuries while trying to overcome a 34-point deficit.

“We went in (at the half) and tried to correct things,” Volek said. “We came out and scored but they came back and scored. They broke our back.”Freshman quarterback Ryan Leadingham threw for one touchdown when he hooked up with Fred Amey for a nine-yard reception in the third quarter. Leadingham completed 19-of-43 passes for 245 yards.

“(Leadingham) played a very good game, we (just) dropped a few balls,” Volek said. “He will be a very good quarterback.”

The dropped balls Volek referred to occurred frequently. Sac State racked up five dropped passes in the first half, eight total. Many of the dropped passes would have set the Hornets up in good field position, but that was the kind of night they were having.

“We dropped balls. We were able to make plays, but we didn?t make the catches,” Volek said.

The defense did not prove any better.

The Hornets gave up 573 yards at an average of 8.1 yards per play. Burford had plenty of time in the pocket to connect with Herzing and Osgood down field. The Mustangs were also able to gain 176 yards rushing.”We were not getting to the quarterback,” Volek said. “He was getting too much time in the pocket.”

The Hornets next travel north to match up with Portland State University (1-0) for the Big Sky Conferece opener. The Vikings went undefeated in preseason play following a 16-13 win over Stephen F. Austin University.

“We have to have a good practice,” Volek said. “Our offense and defense have to play together and we?ve got to compete.”

The game will be televised on UPN-31 at 6:05 p.m on Saturday.