In the last game of the season, junior Andrew Bonner scored his first touchdown of the year. Bonner’s touchdown, a two-yard run, provided the Hornets (5-7) with the go-ahead score in a 42-35 win over Humboldt State (1-10).

Saturday served as the final game for 16 Hornet seniors who were honored before the game.

Senior running back Garrett White scored two, first quarter touchdowns to help guide the Hornets to a 14-7 lead. Ryan Leadingham connected on 10 and 58-yard touchdown passes with Fred Amey to extend the Hornets lead to 28-7.

Amey finished the game with seven catches, 134 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore became the Hornet all-time single-season reception leader with 62, while also eclipsing the program’s Div. I-AA record for single-season receiving yardage with 989.

“(Fred’s) challenge is to take it up to the next level, and not just be the best in the conference, but the best in the nation,” Hornet coach John Volek said.

Amey’s records came a week after Leadingham became the program’s all-time passing yardage leader. Both players will be the foundation of the Hornets’ offense over the next two seasons.

“The victories are going to come because of the two young men to my right (Leadingham) and left (Amey), and what they’ve done,” said Volek at the post-game press conference.

After Amey’s two scores, Humboldt State retaliated with a Corey Smith touchdown run and a Antoine Smith touchdown reception to make the halftime score 28-21.

White scored for the third time early in the third quarter, but Humboldt State scored twice on a pair of touchdown passes to tie the game with less than four minutes remaining.

Bonner scored just over a minute later.

“I’m glad we won five games, but I would rather be talking to you about who we are playing next week in the playoffs,” Leadingham said.

White finished the game with a game-high 111 rushing yards on 25 carries. His three touchdowns gave him 11 on the season.

Leadingham completed 24-of-26 passes for 324 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Humboldt quarterback Chris Dixon completed 30-of-57 passes for 455 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

The victory concluded a season which saw the Hornets drop several close and controversial games.

“It’s definitely not what is expected around here,” Leadingham said. “And it’s definitely not what is going to happen next year.”