Box Score: vs Idaho State

As Hornet fullback Derard Barton streaked downfield on a 42-yard scamper early in the fourth quarter, Sacramento State’s sideline saw visions of a comeback flashing before their eyes.

The Hornets trailed 29-24 against Idaho State University at the time, and Barton’s run, a fullback dive, would have given the Hornets the ball at the Bengal’s 25-yard line.

Referee John Maloney and his crew, however, said Barton fumbled at the end of his run, and Idaho State took over possession of the ball at their own 17-yard line. The Bengals went on to win 32-24, handing the Hornets a loss in their Big Sky Conference opener.

The Hornet fullback saw the critical fourth quarter play a different way.

“I felt my knees hit the ground, and then the ball squirted out,” Barton said. “The officials didn’t see it that way.”

NCAA rules state that the ground (turf) cannot be the cause a fumble.

“(Barton’s) wasn’t a fumble. He hit’s the ground; the ball pops out. The ground can’t cause a fumble,” Hornet quarterback Ryan Leadingham said. “But the fact that he let the ball get out gave the referee grounds to call it a fumble. Ball security is huge, and ball security cost us the game.”

Leadingham fumbled two possessions later at the Bengal 40-yard line with Hornets trailing 29-24.

The Hornets tallied five fumbles on the night, losing two, leading to 10 points for the Bengals.

Sac State had no problem hanging onto the ball early, as the Hornet offense scored two touchdowns in the opening six minutes.

Leadingham got the firework-filled night underway when he found tight end Caleb Jones on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 12 minutes, six seconds remaining in the first quarter. The reception was the first of Jones’ career.

Leadingham found a diving Fred Amey two minutes later on a four-yard catch in the back corner of the end zone to give the Hornets a 14-0 lead.

“We came out running, building off what we did in the Cal Poly game,” said Hornet coach John Volek of their 27-17 victory a week ago.

An Isaac Mitchell two-yard touchdown run in the first minute of the second quarter closed the Hornets lead to 14-7, and marked the beginning of a 29-3 Idaho State scoring run.

During the scoring run, Bengal quarterback Doug Baughman threw for two touchdown passes, while Mitchell ran in his second touchdown on the night.

“We kind of relaxed. We weren’t running hard,” said Leadingham of Sac State’s play throughout Idaho State’s scoring run. “We’ve got to put the team away, we can’t let up like we did.”

With seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, and the Hornets trailing 29-17, Sac State offensive coordinator Bruce Pielstick reached into his bag of tricks and came out golden.

Leadingham took the snap at the Hornet 48-yard line and threw a backward pass to wide receiver Kenan Smith. Smith, who played quarterback at Gunderson High School, lofted a pass to an open Amey, who broke a tackle at the 20-yard line before diving into the end zone.

“We believe in a wide-open offense,” Volek said. “It was a great call by coach Pielstick at the time.”

The touchdown reception was Amey’s fourth of the season and made the score 29-24.

Three fumbles — two lost — and four sacks plagued the Hornets the rest of the way.

Only a sophomore, Amey is already tied for fourth in Hornet history with 11 receiving touchdowns in his Hornet career.

While his numbers on the night were staggering (eight catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns), Amey feels that in order for the Hornet offense to excel, this quarterback is going to have to get the ball into some fresh hands.

“Sometimes Lead’ is not checking out all of his receivers. He’s just trying to get the ball to me all of the time,” Amey said.Leadingham makes quick sense of that.

“Freddy, he gets open. When a guy consistently gets open and makes big plays, you definitely want to get him the ball,” Leadingham said.

Leadingham finished the game completing 20-of-35 passes for 257 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Barton led the ground attack with 58 yards, while Tyronne Gross and Garrett White combined for just 70 yards. White left the game in the first quarter with a rib injury, but was cleared to play in the second half.

Mitchell ran for 105 yards, while Baughman passed for 266 to lead the Bengals.

Hornet linebacker Ryan Kroeker continued his stellar play in replace of the injured Park McAllister, recording a team-high 11 tackles with one sack and one forced fumble.

The Hornets will next take on the University of California, Davis in the Causeway Classic — a rivalry that dates back 49 years. Having lost 43-0 last season to the Div. II Aggies, Volek and the Hornets are out for revenge.

“We’re tired of Davis saying we don’t think (the Causeway Classic) is important,” Volek said. “We’re tired of them putting words in our mouths.”

Leadingham knows as well how much the game means.

“It’s Davis. That’s all you’ve got to say around here. If you’re not pumped up for Davis you should not be playing football,” Leadingham said. “Davis is a great team to get on the winning track with.”