With eight games played and a 4-4 record on the season, the Sacramento State football team heads into a bye week looking to get as healthy and prepared as possible for the last four games of the year.

Players were relaxed and confident as they headed into the Broad Fieldhouse for team meetings. Others were grateful for some down time to receive treatment from medical staff.

“This bye week came at a really good time,” said running back Jordan Robinson. “Everybody is a little banged up this far into the season, but after couple days off we will all be ready to get back to work.”

Robinson leads the Hornets’ ground attack with 609 yards and four touchdowns. He has also been a model of efficiency with only one fumble over 105 carries. The sophomore expressed desire to finish out close contests and hopes to improve on the final four games.

“They always say you take a lot more from a loss than you do from a win,” Robinson said. “We know there are some things we can get better at. Sometimes it’s just one or two plays that are the difference between a win or a loss.”

Defensive back Robbie Kendall has had a productive campaign to the tune of 79 tackles, good for second on the team. He has also recorded 2.5 sacks. The senior credited the team’s high morale to a strong chemistry on and off the field.

“There’s been times this year when adversity has hit,” Kendall said. “Instead of things going downhill, we’ve been able to fight through it and stick together.”

“We say team first, but we’re more like a family,” he added.

Kendall will certainly have more responsibility on defense after the team lost its leading tackler, Darnell Sankey, to injury in the third quarter against Cal Poly.

The linebacker recorded 10 tackles to put his season total at 99, while also nabbing a fumble recovery and a sack in just one half before going down with a slight tear of his medial collateral ligament after a low block. Sankey, however, remained upbeat heading into surgery and has aspirations of a speedy recovery.

“I’ll go get the surgery and come back stronger,” Sankey said. “I may be back for Portland State or UC Davis, so don’t count me out yet,” he added.

Sankey’s fellow linebacker Henry Fernandez is focused on getting more possessions for a Sac State offense averaging 484.9 yards per game. After redshirting in 2013, Fernandez has come out strong this season while compiling 62 tackles in eight games.

“Defensively, one thing to focus in on is creating turnovers,” Fernandez said. “When it comes down to it, whoever wins that turnover margin is usually who ends up winning the game.”

The senior and team captain has enjoyed the ride of this season and aspires to see the squad reach its goals of championship play.

“I’m just taking it one game at a time and embracing it,” he added. “If we win these next four games and finish 8-4, in our conference, who knows what could happen?”

Coach Jody Sears echoed a similar mentality to his players: get healthy and correct preventable mistakes.

“First things first, we’ve got to get healthy. After eight tough weeks, it’s time for these guys to get some time off,” Sears said. “Then we need to look at things we do well, and things we do not so well, and work to sharpen those things up.”

Sears has been pleased with the leadership and maturity of his players and believes the teammate-centered culture has been a success.

“I’m really pleased with these guys,” Sears continued. “The leadership, the attitude, and the play that we have been getting.”

The Hornets will head out Nov. 1 for a conference matchup against Montana.

Two home games remain for Sac State as they host Southern Utah and Portland State, respectively. They will not travel far for their season finale as they play visitor to nearby UC Davis Nov. 22.