Buzzin’ Dozen – Edition 1

Sac State football featured four times in the first Buzzin’ Dozen

State Hornet sports staff|November 3, 2022

Graphic created in Canva.

Mercy Sosa

Graphic created in Canva.

Hello Hornets! Welcome to the first edition of the Buzzin’ Dozen, a bi-weekly power ranking of the 12 best student-athletes at Sac State. Let’s get right into the action and please remember these rankings are solely our opinions– which are generated from our consistent coverage from our team of writers and content producers.

Honorable Mentions

Katie Peneueta - Sophomore Guard, Women’s Basketball
Jake Dunniway - Senior Quarterback, Football
Aubrey Goodwill - Senior Defender, Women’s Soccer
Jaime Robles - Junior Defender, Men’s Soccer

Katie Peneueta - Sophomore Guard, Women’s Basketball
Jake Dunniway - Senior Quarterback, Football
Aubrey Goodwill - Senior Defender, Women’s Soccer
Jaime Robles - Junior Defender, Men’s Soccer

12. Francisco Magaña- Junior Midfielder, Men’s Soccer

Sac State junior midfielder Francisco Magaña dribbles between UC Irvine defenders on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, at Bren Events Center. The Hornets were shutout for the fourth time this season– twice versus the Anteaters.

Big West Conference/@_raymondtranphotography_

Magaña leads the Hornets in both points and goals and has started all 17 of the games he has appeared in. Last month, Magaña’s hat trick lifted the Hornets over Gonzaga University. Magaña has eight career goals.

Magaña leads the Hornets in both points and goals and has started all 17 of the games he has appeared in. Last month, Magaña’s hat trick lifted the Hornets over Gonzaga University. Magaña has eight career goals.

11. Mark Keki- Junior, Men’s Tennis

Sac State Sophomore Mark Keki practices his serves with Assistant coach Mikus Losbergs, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. Keki and his sophomore partner Mate Voros are 5-0 In Doubles team matches.

Hugo Quintanilla

Keki was named first-team All Big Sky in both 2021 and 2022 while setting the record for wins in the doubles set with 20 during the 2022 season. He holds a 24-9 in singles play and 27-5 in doubles.

Keki was named first-team All Big Sky in both 2021 and 2022 while setting the record for wins in the doubles set with 20 during the 2022 season. He holds a 24-9 in singles play and 27-5 in doubles.

10. Cesar Valero- Junior Right Field, Baseball

Sophomore outfielder Cesar Valero with his embroidered glove at the grass area by Del Norte hall on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Valero leads Sac State with 13 home runs this year.

Dominique Williams

Valero, in his first year with Sac State, totaled 13 home runs over 39 games and 38 runs batted in– including 10 in one game against Houston Baptist. The Oregon State transfer led the Hornets in home runs and OPS, giving the Hornets an elite-power threat.

Valero, in his first year with Sac State, totaled 13 home runs over 39 games and 38 runs batted in– including 10 in one game against Houston Baptist. The Oregon State transfer led the Hornets in home runs and OPS, giving the Hornets an elite-power threat.

9. Bridgette Smith- Junior Outside Hitter, Volleyball

Freshman outside hitter Bridgette Smith attempts a kill at the Bank of Colorado Arena on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 in the Hornets' first round matchup against Northern Arizona. Sac State lost the match 3-0 as their season came to an end.

Courtesy of University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Smith started in all 28 matches for the Hornets in 2021 and earned a first team All-Big Sky Conference selection. He was second leader in kills in 2022 with 234 and leads the team in points per set with 3.38.

Smith started in all 28 matches for the Hornets in 2021 and earned a first team All-Big Sky Conference selection. He was second leader in kills in 2022 with 234 and leads the team in points per set with 3.38.

8. Marshel Martin- Junior Tight End, Football

Sophomore tight end Marshel Martin (16) celebrates after catching a touchdown at Hornet Stadium on Nov. 13, 2021. The Hornets had 308 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air in their 49-20 victory against the Portland State Vikings.

Jordan Parker

Martin leads the Hornets with 437 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns this season. The junior has earned All-Big Sky honors for the past three seasons with 19 career touchdowns and 1,636 career receiving yards.

Martin leads the Hornets with 437 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns this season. The junior has earned All-Big Sky honors for the past three seasons with 19 career touchdowns and 1,636 career receiving yards.

7. Marissa Bertuccio- Senior Pitcher, Softball

Bertuccio

Spencer Fielding

Bertuccio was named Big Sky pitcher of the year in 2022 after she finished 21-10– pitching to a 2.38 earned run average. In May of this year, Bertuccio threw her first collegiate no-hitter. She has 36 career wins and a 2.85 earned run average.

Bertuccio was named Big Sky pitcher of the year in 2022 after she finished 21-10– pitching to a 2.38 earned run average. In May of this year, Bertuccio threw her first collegiate no-hitter. She has 36 career wins and a 2.85 earned run average.

6. Asher O’Hara- Senior Quarterback, Football

Senior Sac State quarterback Asher O’Hara spikes the ball after a touchdown in the Hornets’ 55-7 win over Northern Colorado Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Hornet Stadium. O’Hara finished with 11 rushes for 57 yards and the rushing touchdown.

James Fife

O’Hara leads the Hornets in rushing touchdowns this season with 14, alongside his five passing touchdowns. The transfer from Middle Tennessee State has thrived in Sac State’s two-quarterback system– earning 1st team All-Big Sky Conference Honors and scoring 35 total touchdowns in 20 games.

O’Hara leads the Hornets in rushing touchdowns this season with 14, alongside his five passing touchdowns. The transfer from Middle Tennessee State has thrived in Sac State’s two-quarterback system– earning 1st team All-Big Sky Conference Honors and scoring 35 total touchdowns in 20 games.

5. Marte Mapu- Senior Nickelback, Football

Sac State sophomore nickelback Marte Mapu (15) intercepts the ball from Southern Utah quarterback Justin Miller on Oct. 9, 2021, at Hornet Stadium. The Hornets beat the Montana Grizzlies 28-21 on Saturday Oct. 16, 2021 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Ayaana Williams

Mapu is the leader of the Sac State defense this season. The nickelback acts as a swiss-army knife for Sac State with seven career interceptions, 133 career tackles and 11 tackles for loss.

Mapu is the leader of the Sac State defense this season. The nickelback acts as a swiss-army knife for Sac State with seven career interceptions, 133 career tackles and 11 tackles for loss.

4. Isnelle Natabou- Junior Center, Women’s Basketball

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John Cabales

The 6’5” Natabou, who hails from Czech Republic, made an instant impact in her first year as a Hornet– earning Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year along with 2nd team Big Sky Conference. Natabou started in all 30 games she appeared in– averaging 14.7 points-per-game along with 10.9 rebounds.

The 6’5” Natabou, who hails from Czech Republic, made an instant impact in her first year as a Hornet– earning Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year along with 2nd team Big Sky Conference. Natabou started in all 30 games she appeared in– averaging 14.7 points-per-game along with 10.9 rebounds.

3. Lewa Day- Senior Third base, Softball

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Spencer Fielding

Day earned a second team all-Pacific Region and first team All-Big Sky Conference selection in 2022– along with being a tied leader for homeruns in the same season with Lexie Webb at 16. She finished last season second in hits with 56.

Day earned a second team all-Pacific Region and first team All-Big Sky Conference selection in 2022– along with being a tied leader for homeruns in the same season with Lexie Webb at 16. She finished last season second in hits with 56.

2. Jennifer Koga- Junior, Golf

Freshman golfer Jennifer Koga poses for a photo at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Koga tied for fifth at the Gunrock Invitational after scoring a 68.

Deanna Sanchez

Koga earned Big Sky Player of the Year for a second time in 2022 and was named first team All-League Selection. Additionally in 2021, Koga was named conference Freshman of the Year.

Koga earned Big Sky Player of the Year for a second time in 2022 and was named first team All-League Selection. Additionally in 2021, Koga was named conference Freshman of the Year.

1. Cameron Skattebo- Sophomore Running Back, Football

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Jordan Latimore

Skattebo has taken off for the Hornets in his second year– averaging 7.8 yards a carry and scoring nine touchdowns in eight games–including a three-touchdown performance against Utah Tech, where he took an onside kick back for a score.

Skattebo has taken off for the Hornets in his second year– averaging 7.8 yards a carry and scoring nine touchdowns in eight games–including a three-touchdown performance against Utah Tech, where he took an onside kick back for a score.

Page design by Mercy Sosa.