Coming into Saturday’s game against Northern Arizona, the story of all four games for Sacramento State football has had the same theme. Play well and stay close in the first half, and then self destruct in the second half by turning the ball over and letting a small deficit turn into a large defeat.

However, against NAU head coach Steve Mooshagian’s club did a complete 180 and saved that script for the Lumberjacks instead. After being outscored 52-0 in the third quarter and 95-13 combined in the second halves of each game, Sac State turned the tables on its opponent by scoring 21 unanswered points to start the third quarter.

“Right from the opening kickoff we got after it and got it done,” Mooshagian said of his team’s play in the second half. “We wanted the defense to get off the field on third downs and for the offense to take advantage of the opportunities the defense was giving them.”

It’s safe to say they did that in the second half. The Hornets turned four second half takeaways into 21 points. Coming into this game, the Hornets weren’t able to muster much offensively after their defense forced a turnover. They were outscored 52-16 in points off turnovers before their performance against NAU.

“The 21 in a row, that’s exactly how we’re supposed to execute it,” Mooshagian said. “We wish it wouldn’t have taken five weeks, but it was good to see everything gel like it did tonight.”

The turning point of the game was the opening kickoff when wide receiver Terrell Baker recovered Tautua Reed’s fumble at the NAU 23-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Chris Hurd found tight end Tommy Briggs wide open in the end zone for a 21-yard score. It tied the game and changed the momentum towards Sac State, which they just kept building on as the half continued.

“It was just a great call at the perfect time,” Hurd said of the touchdown play. “We opened it up more in the second half and we executed what we’ve been trying to do for the last month.”

The offense scored touchdowns on three of the next four drives as they built a 31-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. Hurd threw two more touchdown passes, a 58-yarder to Ryan Coogler and 60-yarder to Ryan Mole and his one-yard quarterback sneak for another touchdown.

Fittingly, the Hornet defense finished off the scoring when safety Brent Webber returned his second interception of the season for a 32-yard touchdown. Sac State finished with a total of six takeaways for the entire game.

“If you get six turnovers in a game I don’t see how you can lose it,” linebacker Matt Logue said. He forced the first two turnovers for Sac State with an interception and fumble recovery.

“The defense came up huge today and we capitalized on those opportunities that we had,” Logue said.

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Mitch McLaughlin can be reached at [email protected]