Two critical plays, that took place within eight minutes, determined the fate of Sacramento State’s 31-17 loss to No. 25 Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo on Saturday.

Down 7-0, after Mustang running back Geno Randle broke free for a 62-yard touchdown, the Hornets began to march down the field.

Instead of Sac State reaching the end zone it was the Mustangs celebrating, when cornerback David Richardson intercepted a Ryan Leadingham pass and raced 71 yards for the touchdown, putting Sac State in a 14-point hole.

“Ryan took a hit on his shoulder on the second play of the game,” head coach Steve Mooshagian said. “His throw was behind Fred Amey and that hurt us, we we’re going into score.”

The very next drive the Hornets used Amey and running back Tyronne Gross to muscle down the field, with Gross breaking off a vital 47-yard run that brought the Hornets to Cal Poly’s 20-yard line. Two downs later Gross powered into the end zone, but after hitting the ground the ball popped loose and the officials, who must not have seen Gross go down before he lost the football, negated the touchdown and the fumble was recovered by the Mustangs.

“It wasn’t like Playstation where you could go back and hit the reset button,” Mooshagian said.

Leadingham, who is still feeling lingering pain in his shoulder and elbow since the season opener, was benched in the second half for sophomore Blake Mori.

“He hates to come out of the game because he is so competitive,” Mooshagian said. “But if he’s not 100 percent we have another guy who can get the job done.”

Sac State was able to move the ball against the Mustangs, but struggled in the red zone. In the second quarter Tyronne Gross scored on a 4-yard rush and later on Mori found wide receiver Kenan Smith on a 33-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.