The Sacramento State football team has climbed its way out of a 0-3 hole and is now 2-3 overall. The Hornets are 2-1 in the Big Sky Conference thanks to their 38-17 win over Idaho State on Saturday.

The Hornets wrapped up homecoming week on a good note with the victory.

Running back Terrance Dailey rushed for a career high 178 yards on 13 carries and scored one touchdown.

Dailey got Sac State rolling early with a 42-yard run into the end zone with 12:38 left to go in the first quarter to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead.

“The offensive line did a real nice job, which led to good opportunities for me to take advantage of. It’s a real good feeling to have another win,” Dailey said.

Idaho State tied the game 7-7 with 8:51 left in the first quarter when quarterback Russel Hill connected with wide receiver Andrew Benavides on a four-yard pass.

The Hornet defense played well for the second consecutive week. Defensive backs Durrell Oliver and Marquese Smith both returned interceptions for touchdowns in the second quarter. Oliver’s interception return was 37 yards long and Smith’s interception return went for 83 yards.

This was the first time Sac State’s defense took two interceptions for touchdowns in one game since its game against Saint Mary’s Sept. 6, 2003.

Oliver said he saw an opportunity to pick off the ball so he took advantage.

“It was my first pick of this season, and my fifth overall. I think the d-line played very well, and was able to put a lot of pressure on Idaho State. It was just a fun game to play,” he said.

Smith said he was not sure how much time was left until halftime, so he just kept on running until he was either tackled or in the end zone.

“Our coaches always tell us to use tunnel vision – just playing to play. So I just got the ball and just ran with it; I wasn’t really paying attention to the time,” Smith said. “I kind of had a felling that there was not much time left just because of the play that was called. Other than that, I didn’t know there was 12 seconds left until after the play.”

Quarterback Jason Smith threw a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandyn Reed as the Hornets took a 31-10 lead going into halftime.

The Hornets did not come out with the same intensity in the second half. Sac State’s offense did not find its rhythm until its fourth drive of the third quarter.

Jason Smith threw a 54-yard pass to wide receiver Dylan Lane for a touchdown to give the Hornets a 38-10 lead.

Idaho State running back Skylar Morgan scored the Bengals’ first rushing touchdown of the season with 2:58 left in the third quarter. This was the final scoring drive by either team the rest of the game.

Head coach Marshall Sperbeck said he believed, although the second half was not as strong, his team was still able to execute the game plan.

“I think the game plan today went well. We executed in the first half and I was very pleased with how we played,” he said. “We did get lackadaisical and that very much showed, but overall they played well and we need to keep the momentum.”

Britney Rossman can be reached at [email protected]