Four interceptions, big runs, a trick play, and a huge defensive stand with the game in the balance, this is the team head coach Steve Mooshagian had been preparing for the students of Sacramento State.

Unfortunately, the students weren’t there to witness it.

The Big Sky Conference stiffed the team by not giving them any Player of the Week awards, so I am going to rectify this egregious error by giving out my own.Senior cornerback and co-captain Ramon Payne deserves a game ball. He had two interceptions and broke up three passes all on third down, including a play in the corner of the end zone that he almost brought in for another pick. I was standing about 15 feet away and I thought he got a foot in before falling out of bounds.

Also on the defensive side worthy of game balls was Jacob Houston who had three sacks to tie his own school-record and five tackles for a loss.The play of the game had to be yet another defensive play, this one by junior linebacker Matt Logue, who intercepted a screen pass and took it to the end zone for a touchdown.

The Hornets had suffered all year by their lack of big play capability, but that changed in the first half of the game.

Not only did the Hornets have four picks, but they also had big offensive plays to compliment the defense.

Tyronne Gross looked the best he’s looked since early last year, breaking opposing defenders’ ankles and busting huge runs.

The junior running back set the tone early after being put in the game for the Hornet’s second drive.

Gross made two great runs on that drive including a 19-yard touchdown scamper to cap it off.

In the next possession, he tried to top himself.

Gross busted lose into the Wildcats secondary for a long touchdown, but it was called back because of a hold. It was a shame too, because he punctuated the second touchdown with an awesome dive into the end zone, again directly in front of me.

He ended the game with 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns, worthy of another game ball.

Maybe the Big Sky forgot about the game.

In their defense, they were two of the worst teams in the conference, but Sac State deserved to get some respect for this performance.

Ryan Mole, the true freshman running back, passed for a touchdown and when he threw a pick, hustled down the field, made a touchdown saving tackle and promptly body-slammed the unsuspecting defender–I’m not making this up. This gave the defense another chance to shine, and they stuffed Weber State to basically put the game out of reach.

Sac State equaled its win total from last season with this win, and has five more games to improve on that record, including a 1-5 Idaho State squad this week.The team was not going to win the Big Sky conference, but they have improved from last year and despite the bad showing off the UC Davis game again this year, they have shown reasons to be hopeful for the future.

Hopefully more fans can show up to watch the next time the Hornets take the field, and support this work in progress; this young team is capable of big things.

Contact Robert Alvis at [email protected]