Sac State football team wins 2020 ‘Best Men’s Sports Team’ and ‘Best Campus Event’

Hornets saw first trip to FCS playoffs last season

The Sacramento State football team won this year’s “Best Men’s Sports Team” and “Best Campus Event” in The State Hornet’s fourth annual Best of Sac State poll.

The team ended their 2019 season with a share of the Big Sky Conference Championship and their first trip to the FCS playoffs. After being named the No.4 seed in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs bracket, the Hornets’ historic season came to an end with a 42-28 loss to Austin Peay State University in the second round.

Coach Troy Taylor said it was an honor to be voted in both categories by students.

“First, the season was outstanding and we had great support from the fans,” Taylor said. “Becoming successful, while obviously being able to have a home-field advantage, and then to have a great environment that people wanna come and watch the game, that was really cool and it’s a great experience.”

Quarterback Kevin Thomson, who helped lead the Hornets to their first Big Sky Championship and was named “Offensive Player of the Year,” said he was honored that the football team won “Best Men’s Sports Team” among all the talented teams there are on campus. Thomson was also named “Best Male Athlete” in the poll.

“I think overall we performed very well as a team from the coaching staff to the training staff to the players,” Thomson said. “Everyone involved had a huge role in our success.”

Thomson said that winning the Eastern Washington University, Montana State University and University of Montana games were great and proved that they can be at the top of their league, but there’s still a huge amount of room for improvement.

“I’ve been enjoying the offseason and have been working with the coaching staff to figure things I can improve on individually and things we can improve on as an offense and a team,” Thomson said. “I’m looking forward to coming back together as a group and playing again.”

Sophomore defensive back Abel Ordaz shared a similar sentiment in that there’s room for growth to make the best out of next season.

“We’re doing everything to make football games the best experience by not only our play on the field, but with extra things to better our fans’ experience,” Ordaz said. “Our team and seniors last season worked very hard day in and day out, and we’re trying to continue the foundation they set.”

Ordaz said a moment he’ll remember for the rest of his life was winning the Big Sky Conference and Causeway Classic on the same day and how much of a bond he’s created with his team.

“We saw a lot of glimpses of how good we can be, but we also want to keep working to win another Big Sky championship and get the school’s first playoff win this next season,” Ordaz said.

The Hornets are currently scheduled to begin the 2020 season Sept. 5 at San Diego State University.

Additional reporting by Shaun Holkko.