The Sacramento State football team lost another game in the final seconds, this time to No. 8 Eastern Washington University 28-24 on Saturday at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash.

The Hornets tailed the Eagles 21-3 at halftime. Eagle quarterback Bo Mitchell threw two first-half touchdowns &- one to wide receiver Brandon Kaufman and one to wide receiver Ashton Gant. Running back Taiwan Jones added a 77-yard scoring run.

Hornet kicker Chris Diniz made a 28-yard field goal just before halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Hornets blocked a punt &- their fourth of the season &- which was returned by linebacker Henry Fernandez for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Sac State then fed running back Bryan Hilliard, who responded with two fourth-quarter touchdowns en route to his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing game. He finished with 107 yards on 30 carries.

Hilliard’s 1-yard touchdown run with 7:22 remaining gave Sac State its first lead 24-21.

On the game’s final drive, Eastern Washington drove 35 yards in seven plays, culminating with a Mitchell-to-Kaufman connection with 33 seconds remaining to put the Eagles ahead for good at 28-24.

The Hornets fall to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the Big Sky Conference. Eastern Washington improves to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Sky.

Sac State travels to Flagstaff, Ariz., to take on the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks (4-3, 2-2) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m.

Dustin Nosler can be reached at [email protected]