The Sacramento State football team?s comeback attempt fell short Saturday, falling to California State University, Northridge, 49-36. The Hornets dug themselves into an early hole, finding themselves down 35-7 in the first half.

“If we didn?t turn the ball over in the first half, it would have been a closer game,” Hornet head coach John Volek said. “They got two touchdowns on our turnovers. In the second half, we beat them 29-14.”

The Hornets came back in the second half behind the passing of freshman quarterback Ryan Leadingham.Leadingham completed 22-of-44 for 315 yards, with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

“He tied the school record (for touchdown passes in a single game) as a freshman, which is pretty good,” Volek said of Leadingham. “But I was disappointed with his turnovers. As a coach, though, I look for improvements every week, and ?Lead? is improving.”

Leadingham was also able to spread the ball around, as both Gary Austin Jr. and Fred Amey exceeded 90 yards in receiving. Austin Jr. led the Hornets in receiving, hauling in six passes for 99 yards.

Amey, who caught four balls for 93 yards, was on the receiving end of two scoring plays.Amey now has five touchdown receptions on the season.Turnovers again were the Hornets? undoing, as they committed four turnovers in addition to being penalized 13 times for 96 yards.

The Matadors? offense came out on fire, putting points on the board at a fast and furious pace. Northridge?s quarterback Marcus Brady scorched the Hornets? injury-riddled defense for four first half touchdowns, which gave the Matadors a lead they never relinquished. Northridge did a good job of mixing and matching the run-pass ratio, with the ground game accounting for 179 yards. Brady was equally as effective rushing the ball, as the quarterback ran for 92 yards on eight carries.One of Brady?s 35-yard scampers ended in the endzone. Brady threw for 345 yards on 26-of-46 passing, with five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Despite the Matadors? relentless attack though the air and the ground, Volek was pleased with his team?s defense, noting that most of Nortridge?s points were not the defense?s fault.

“The defense got some turnovers and we were able to score off all of those,” Volek said. “We need to get back to doing that.”

This game continues a disturbing trend for the Hornets as they have now lost their last six games with the defense being porous over the past month of the season.

The Hornets will look to right the ship in their season finale against Northern Arizona this Saturday at 6:05 p.m.