Coming into a match-up with No. 14 Eastern Washington, Sacramento State was still focused on trying to make a late run in the Big Sky standings for a shot at the Div. I-AA playoffs. Those hopes were crushed with every completion from EWU’s standout quarterback Erik Meyer.

Meyer had one of the best games in his career, with a career-high 470 yards passing and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 45-17 victory at Hornet Stadium. Meyer connected often with his favorite target, wide receiver Eric Kimble, who tallied 10 catches for 189 yards and two scores.

“He’s a pretty good receiver,” cornerback Jody Johnson said of Kimble. “You try to get your hands on him and it’s hard to do that. It was definitely a challenge for us to go up against him but most of us were up to it.”

Despite playing one of the best offenses in all of Division I-AA, the Hornets held their own in the middle of the game and even cut the lead to 31-17 midway through the third quarter.

Running back Kris Daniels, who was filling in for the injured Ryan Mole, started off the first scoring drive with a long kickoff return that led to Brad Tredway connecting with tight end McRuben Fleurinord on a seven-yard scoring play.

On the next Hornets possession, Daniels would finish off the scoring drive with his first touchdown of the season, cutting the lead to 14. On the drive, Tredway was 3 for 3 passing on third downs.

That was as close as the Hornets would get as Meyer responded with two passes to Kimble, the second being a touchdown to put the Eagles back up 21 points going into the fourth quarter. A rushing touchdown from Ryan Cole finished off the scoring.

“That was not the best effort that we’ve had defensively,” head coach Steve Mooshagian said. “It was disappointing after we played so well in the other conferences games, that this was the one that kind of got away from us.”

The Hornets were hobbled by injuries as their leading passer, rusher and receiver all left the game because of injuries (Chris Hurd, Mole and Ryan Coogler) and they were already without starting center Travis Johnson due to an injury.

Coach Mooshagian was encouraged by the way he had other players step up after being forced to play because of the injuries.

At the end of the game he got a chance to put in sophomore quarterback Crosby Wehr get him some action.

Mooshagian said it was something that he’s been thinking of doing for some time now but hasn’t got a chance to do. Wehr had yet to take a snap in his time with the Hornets.

This weekend the Hornets face another tough Big Sky opponent in Montana State. Mooshagian said despite all the player losses due to injury that his team will just keep plugging away and keep competing, trying to get that second Big Sky win. The Hornets did upset MSU last season at Hornet Stadium 38-28.

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Mitch McLaughlin can be reached at [email protected]