Sacramento State football finished the season on a positive note, beating Idaho State 41-30. The Hornets finish the season with two straight wins, the first time Sac State has strung together consecutive victories all year.

“These guys did great,” head coach Marshall Sperbeck said. “I’m certainly not satisfied with our overall record, but we can take a lot of positive things from the past two weeks. A two game win streak going into next year is huge.”

Against Idaho State, the Hornets dominated in all facets of the game, rushing for 335 yards on 58 attempts.

Freshman running back Bryan Hilliard carried the ball 38 times for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Travon Jones had to be at the game late because of an English test, but still carried the ball 14 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns.

“I think that we are all starting to learn one another,” Hilliard said, referring to the cohesiveness of the offensive line. “They trust us and we trust them to make plays.”

The Hornets ran the ball all over the Bengal defense and controlled the clock for the duration of the game, holding the ball for almost 35 minutes.

“We’ve had a big couple of weeks,” Jones said. “We have a one – two punch with Hilliard, and it makes my job a little easier.”

Jones talked about the effectiveness that having two completely opposite, yet equally good backs brings to the team.

“We use my speed, and then pound the ball with him, and then back to my speed. Next season, to be honest with you, we haven’t had two backs come back like this in consecutive seasons. It’s just going to give us even more time to work together.”

The Hornets won with an all-around team effort that was sparked by a huge interception by Jody Johnson late in the third quarter. With the Hornets up 21-17, Idaho State had gained momentum after the half and drove to the Hornet five yard line.

Bengal quarterback Russel Hill tried to throw a fade to the outside, but left it short and Johnson read the play before the ball was even thrown. Johnson “boxed out” the receiver, went up and got it. The play resulted in a touchback for the Hornets and the team scored on the ensuing drive to make the game 28-17.

“It was a relief for me,” Johnson said. “There had been a couple similar situations earlier in the year where I didn’t make the play. It was just a relief.”

Johnson’s last game as a Hornet was his best of the season, amassing eight tackles, (one for a loss) three pass breakups, the before mentioned interception and a touchdown saving tackle in which Johnson showed off his sprinter speed and caught Idaho State receiver Ken Cornist on the one yard line after a 71-yard gain.

“I just knew we couldn’t let him score,” Johnson said. “I tried to strip the ball, but he switched hands. I just wanted to give the defense another opportunity to make a play.”

It is that type of work ethic and attitude that has proven the Hornets are winners all year even after a disappointing record this season.

“The team bought into the new structure, even when they could have quit,” Sperbeck said. “They have been supportive of me taking on this new job. It is difficult to be in a program for three years and have everything change, but the seniors especially bought into it.”

The Hornets finish the season 3-8 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference.

Galen Kusic can be reached at [email protected]