Sacramento State (2-6, 1-4 Big Sky) was downed 45-10 by Eastern Washington (6-3, 5-1) on Saturday in Cheney, Wash.

Eastern is currently second in the Big Sky standings.

“They are the best overall team in the conference, best balanced team,” head coach Steve Mooshagian said. “The score was no indication of how close it was or what could have been.”

Despite the loss, Hornets senior wide receiver Fred Amey had a career day pulling in a school-record 15 catches for 156 yards. Amey broke the previous record of 14, which was held by Tom Powell against San Francisco State in 1968.

Amey scored the Hornets’ lone touchdown — a one-yard reception from senior quarterback Ryan Leadingham midway through the fourth quarter.

“Fred made a lot of nice plays,” Mooshagian said. “He had a career day versus arguably the best overall secondary in the conference.”

Leadingham threw for 209 yards and one touchdown but he also threw two key interceptions in the first half.

Both of Leadingham’s interceptions were off balls tipped by Hornets receivers.

The defense stopped Eastern on its first two possessions of the game but after a fumble recovery on a punt and the second interception off of Leadingham, Eastern was up 10-3 midway through the second quarter.

Eastern led 24-3 after quarterback Erik Meyer led the team on two touchdown drives to end the half. Meyer came into the game as the most efficient quarterback in Division I-AA and threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns against the Hornets.

Eagles running back Darius Washington ran for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory. The Eagles ran for 170 yards on the day while they held the Hornets to a school record of negative 34 yards rushing.

Hornets running back Tyronne Gross was held to negative 10 yards on 11 carries as he was the lone Sac State running back to get a carry in the game.

The Eagles gained 431 yards of total offense compared to only 201 yards for Sac State.

This Saturday at 4:05 p.m. the Hornets return home to face Montana State.

The Bobcats (6-2, 4-0) sit atop the Big Sky after their 60-14 victory last Saturday Northern Arizona.

Montana State quarterback Travis Lulay threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns against Northern Arizona and he currently is third among Big Sky passers in yards (2151) and passer rating (117.9 rating).

“They have a very good (quarterback) in Travis Lulay and we have to be able to contain him, as he goes their offense goes,” Mooshagian said.

Despite facing the top team in the conference, Mooshagian likes some of the match-ups he has against MSU for this weekend’s game.

“We need to be able to continue to make plays in the passing game if (Montana State) stacks the box. They have a young secondary, but they do have experience on the (defensive line) and at linebacker. (Montana State) are a really good defense versus the run.”

The Hornets defense will try to continue its improved play against a Montana State offense that put up 541 total yards and 53 first half points against Northern Arizona.

The Hornets defense is currently second in total defense in Big Sky games this season behind only Eastern Washington. Montana State is ranked third coming into this week.

Hornets Defensive End Jacob Houston is tied with Weber State’s Brady Fosmark atop the sack list among Big Sky players with eight. Linebacker Jimmy Ellingson leads the conference with 95 total tackles and cornerback Ramon Payne with his five interceptions remains the top Big Sky performer in that category.