Sacramento State threw on the ponchos for their trip up to Ogden, Utah taking home a 33-30 victory over #5 Weber State.

Sac State played another close game this week against the Weber State Wildcats. A spinning interception helped the Hornets jump out to a 16 point lead late in the second half. The Wildcats stormed back, making it a seven-point game.

Sophomore running back Cameron Skattebo and senior kicker Kyle Sentkowski led the Hornets to extend their lead late. Sac State’s defense drained the clock on Weber State’s final drive, allowing the Hornets to escape undefeated.

“This is a good Weber State team,” Sac State head coach Troy Taylor said. “They are obviously a top-seven team; it’s a heck of a win to come in here and win.”

GAME SUMMARY

Weber State opened the game with a solid kickoff return, giving them great opening-field position. The Wildcats couldn’t take advantage, going three-and-out on their first drive.

Sac State took over at their own 12-yard line and went right to their bread and butter on offense. The Hornets were working the ball down the field slow and steady with the senior quarterback Asher O’Hara and sophomore running back Cameron Skattebo duo. 

On just their second pass, O’Hara found senior wide receiver Pierre Williams on the sideline, setting up O’Hara’s 15th rushing touchdown of the year.

Sac State: 7, Weber State: 0

The Wildcats saw the prolonged Hornet drive and one-upped them. Weber State’s three-headed backfield all saw action moving the ball down the field. On third-and-goal, sophomore quarterback Bronson Barron found a wide-open sophomore wide receiver Jacob Sharp in the end-zone. The score capped off a 16-play, almost seven minute drive.

Sac State: 7, Weber State: 7

Both teams traded punts on their ensuing drives and both defenses stepped up after allowing points. Sac State’s third drive started nicely with a 19-yard connection between O’Hara and Williams. However, it ended quickly as on the next play when Skattebo lost the football as the Wildcats recovered the fumble.

Weber State, fresh off the turnover, picked up a first down looking to take a lead. However, Sac State’s junior safety Kylen Ross stepped up and put his helmet on the ball, forcing a fumble on the next play. Which gave the Hornets the ball right back.

Senior quarterback Jake Dunniway checked in for the first time five minutes into the second quarter and gave the Hornets a crucial third down conversion around midfield. Two plays later, O’Hara loaded up a deep shot to junior tight end Marshel Martin, who burned his man for a 48-yard touchdown.

“I knew [the defender] had outside leverage, so I had to get inside [leverage],” Martin said. “I was able to make a play with my speed and trust my quarterback to get the ball to me.”

Sac State: 14, Weber State: 7

While the Wildcats were looking for a response, the Hornet defense stepped up stopping two runs on the first two plays. Sac State sophomore safety Gavin Davis-Smith made a fantastic pass breakup to force a Weber State punt.

However, Weber State’s sophomore long snapper Grant Sands’ struggles continued as he sailed another snap into the end zone for a safety.

Sac State: 16, Weber State: 7

The Wildcat defense came out roaring with a stop on the next Hornet drive giving their offense around three and a half minutes left in the half to respond.

Weber State pulled out all the stops on their last drive, faking a punt and running a flea flicker. All was for naught as Barron couldn’t find any yards on a fourth and long. Taking the game to half.

Sac State had nothing going on their first drive of the second half. The opposite could be said for Weber State. 

Sophomore running back Dontae McMillan drove the Wildcats across midfield with ease. Barron found senior tight end Justin Malone, off a play action pass, allowing Malone to walk into the end zone untouched.

Sac State: 16, Weber State: 14

The Hornets responded quickly to the Wildcat score, with two big running plays put Sac State into Wildcat territory. Dunniway then connected with Williams for an easy connection, moving Sac State into scoring territory. On the ensuing play, Dunniway found Martin in the end zone for a score, scoring  his second receiving touchdown of the game.

“That was tough, but that was nothing,” Martin said about the rain. “Sacramento got some rain too; it was just another game.”

Sac State: 23, Weber State: 14

Weber State came out struggling in the passing game. Those struggles continued on this drive. Barron finally connected with Sharp deep, but Sharp bobbled the ball and it ended up in the hands of Sac State sophomore cornerback Patrick Dean for a spinning interception.

Sac State worked their way out to midfield before they were faced with a fourth-and-short. They went for it, with O’Hara floating a touch pass to freshman tight end Cameron Kuntz. O’Hara leaped into the end zone from a yard out to extend the lead. O’Hara’s 16th rushing touchdown of the season.

“The offensive line was huge,” Taylor said. “In these conditions, really anywhere, you have to run the ball to be successful. They did a great job.”

Sac State: 30, Weber State: 14

Weber State’s special teams have been great all season and that trend continued. Sophomore cornerback Abraham Williams took the kickoff back to the end zone, scoring. The Wildcats went for a 2-point conversion and got stopped. 

A targeting call on Sac State senior defensive end Ayodele Adeoye, gave the Wildcats another try at the conversion. However, the Hornet defense held strong, stopping junior running back Kris Jackson.

Sac State: 30, Weber State: 20

With all the momentum going their way, the Wildcats kept going, forcing a quick three-and-out from the Hornet offense. 

Sac State’s defense answered right back, forcing a three-and-out of their own. The Hornet offense came back out, attempting to kill the clock and end the game. 

Around midfield, Sac State used their last two timeouts trying to get the perfect third down play. It wasn’t enough as the Wildcats got the stop.

Weber State used some Sac State mistakes to move down the field, running four of the eight minutes remaining off the clock. They settled for a field goal to cut it to a seven point game.

Sac State: 30, Weber State: 23

The Wildcats tried an onside kick that failed, giving the Hornets great field position to put the game away. Skattebo got things started picking up a first down. The drive stalled, but senior kicker Kyle Sentkowksi drilled a 42-yard field goal to bump the lead back to 10 points.

“Let’s win,” Martin said. “That is our only mindset. Do everything we can, hold the ball, and put us in the best position we can [get in] and win the game.”

Sac State: 33, Weber State: 23

With a minute and a half left in the game, the Wildcats needed a quick score. They bounced up the field, wasting no time getting into the red zone. But the stingy Hornet defense came up when it mattered, wasting 50 seconds off the clock. Barron snuck in a touchdown with 16 seconds left to cut the lead to three.

“I’m proud of how much we stayed together,” senior nickelback Marte Mapu said. “We preach that a lot. That is a good example of everyone doing their part, when they are called upon.”

Sac State: 33, Weber State: 30

All hope for Weber State relied on an onside kick. With the ball rolling on the ground, Martin fell on it, recovering it for Sac State. The Hornets kneeled out the clock in victory formation to capitalize the program’s first 9-0 mark in school history.

The Hornets return to action against Portland State Friday at 6 p.m PST in Hillsboro, Oregon.

“We expect everyone to put up a good game against us,” Mapu said. “They will bring their best and we will bring ours.”