It was a bit surprising even to the distraught cannon operator who ran out ammunition towards the end of the game. Sacramento State tallied up 12 scores (nine touchdowns, two field goals and one safety) and no one was prepared for it.

“This (win) had me blind,” head coach Steve Mooshagian said of his team’s 69-19 drudging of Saint Mary’s College in the Hornets’ home opener.

“It feels great (to get my first win). But I also know there is a lot to do,” Mooshagian said. “I know it is only going to get tougher from this point on. I am going to enjoy it for 24 hours then put it to bed and get ready for Cal Poly.”

The coach, grinning from ear to ear and drenched in a dynamic combination of lemon-lime and orange sports drinks, resembled a 10-year-old getting his first puppy on Christmas morning.

Ironically, the defense came ready to play…like a bunch of fierce and rabid dogs.

Sac State intercepted Gael quarterbacks Magnum Parker and Zac Connors four times for 164 yards and one touchdown. Junior transfer Chris Meyer scored his fourth career touchdown (first touchdown and interception as a Hornet) in the fourth quarter on an 88-yard return. Earlier in the game true freshman Stephon Paige, redshirt freshman James Bogetti and junior transfer Kevin Tennerson all picked up their first career interceptions as Hornets.

“All week long we practiced hard,” defensive lineman Harry Filo said, who returned a Magnum fumble stripped by senior Ben Fox for a 39-yard touchdown in the second quarter. “Coach DiCamillo was like, ‘all you have to do is execute and take care of your own job,’ I think last week everybody was trying to be the hero and didn’t buy into the scheme.”

The scheme on Saturday resulted in two defensive scores and six turnovers, which led to three offensive touchdowns.

Oh yeah, the offense was there too — breaking record after record.

“We were trying to spread the ball around…that’s kind of the way the offense works,” Mooshagian said.

Fred Amey broke the all-time reception record when he caught his 120th pass in the first quarter.

The Hornets scored the most points they ever have in any first quarter closing it out 26-6.

By the end of the game Sac State had a amassed 69 points — the second most in school history, the most scored in the Div I — AA era.

“We’ve stressed one game at a time,” Mooshagian said. “I don’t care if (were playing) the little sisters for the poor or McClatchy High School or UCLA … we still have to go lineup. (Saint Mary’s) puts their pants on the same way we do. We have to respect our opponent.”

Amey, was arguably the most explosive guy on the field. He held the school record for most receiving yards going into the game and when he left in the third quarter after being ejected for two-straight unsportsmanlike conduct penalties — he had put his name in the record book two more times.

With his second catch of the game, the 120th of his career, Amey broke the record for most career receptions. With his first touchdown of the game — a 9-yard deep route to the corner of the end zone – he reached 17 career touchdown receptions.

In the third quarter, with Sac State on top 45-6, Amey awaited a punt from Ben Antongiobanni. Eighty-three yards later Amey was dancing with teammates in the end zone and his excessive celebrating got him ejected from the very game that had his name inscribed all over it.

“He didn’t know where the guy was and he looked back,” Mooshagian said of Amey, who was called for taunting when he looked back at a member of the Gaels’ special teams while sprinting in for his second score.But Mooshagian explained to his all-star that no matter what the score, getting tossed was inexcusable.

“We told him, he not only got kicked out of the game, if this was a close game we don’t have him anymore.”

Quarterback Ryan Leadingham finished the game with 159 passing yards and completed 15-of-22 passes with one interception that was returned by Ray Mike for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Running back Tyronne Gross, who eclipsed 100 rushing yards by the second quarter, finished with 138 yards and two touchdowns.”(Gross) is just a great back and he makes things happen,” Leadingham said. “Tyronne is on a different level. He’s explosive, he’s fast and he hits people.”

For the Gaels, Parker finished 15-of-26 for 121 yards with three interceptions while wide receiver Stephen Ratliff led all receivers with nine catches and 77 yards.

“I don’t think our guys were (ready),” Saint Mary’s head coach Vincent White said. “And as coaches we’ll take the blame for that.”