The Sacramento State football team got off to a fast start on Saturday and easily defeated the No. 25 Northern Arizona University 40-10 at J.L. Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz.

This is the third time in four games the Hornets have scored 40 or more points in a game and was their first time winning in Flagstaff since 2002.

After each team went three-and-out on its first drive and Sac State punted on its second possession, Hornet defensive lineman Christian Clark forced Lumberjack quarterback Chase Stangel to fumble at the Northern Arizona 23 yard line, which set up the Hornets’ first touchdown.

“We came out and had a great start right from the beginning. We played a good game.” said head coach Marshall Sperbeck. “The defense got us started. They had three turnovers in the first half and that really got our team going. We were able to capitalize on offense and turn them into scores.”

Running back Bryan Hilliard scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. It was his 10th touchdown of the season.

On the first play of Northern Arizona’s next possession, wide receiver Daiveun Curry-Chapman fumbled at the NAU 27 yard line and Sac State again recovered. Four plays and 1:23 later, Hilliard notched his second 1-yard run of the game to give Sac State a 14-0 lead.

However, Northern Arizona’s No. 3-ranked rushing defense held Hilliard in check.

Hilliard finished with 35 yards on 12 carries after seeing little playing time in the second half of the blowout. It snapped his streak of six consecutive 100-yard rushing games for the junior running back.

In the second quarter, Big Sky Conference sack and forced fumble leader Zack Nash added to his league-leading totals in each category after forcing NAU quarterback Michael Herrick to fumble.

Four plays after the recovery, quarterback Jeff Fleming found wide receiver Morris Norrise behind the defense for a 39-yard score.

“The coaches were making the play calls and I happened to be the one that Fleming was going to,” Norrise said. “We felt great. We came out passing and came out strong.”

Following Fleming’s 12-32 performance last week against Eastern Washington University, Fleming found a new spark.

The Hornet passing game was hitting on all cylinders. Fleming completed 23 of 32 passes for 333 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

“I was just going through my leads and making the right decisions,” Fleming said. “The wide receivers were making great catches and getting open, the linemen were blocking really well. I was just standing back there, throwing it around and it was landing it in the right places.”

Fleming was named co-Big Sky Offensive Player of the week on Monday. It is the first time this season a Hornet has earned a Big Sky award, which he shares with Eastern Washington University running back Taiwan Jones.

“It feels good to play a good team and get recognized for it,” Fleming said. “I really appreciate it and I’m really excited about it, but at the same time, I have to look forward to next week and hopefully do the same thing.”

Norrise finished with eight catches, 97 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Ronald Richardson added eight catches for 66 yards and one touchdown.

Northern Arizona recovered a Dominic Carmazzi fumble late in the fourth quarter and returned it for a touchdown for its only score of the game.

The Hornets held the Lumberjacks to 99 total yards in the first half &- 22 rushing and 77 passing. Northern Arizona finished with 166 total yards for the game. It was one of Sac State’s best defensive performances this season.

Sac State totaled 303 yards &- 56 rushing and 247 passing &- in the first half and finished with 488 total yards in the game.

The Hornets improve to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big Sky while the Lumberjacks fall to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the conference.

Sac State hosts Portland State University (1-4, 2-6) on Saturday in its home finale. The game will also be senior day. Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m.

Marshall Hampson can be reached at [email protected]