Sacramento State runs wild as Hornets defeat Weber State 55-27

OGDEN – Sacramento State powered through wind, rain, and Weber State's defense with a dominant rushing attack, storming to a 55-27 victory behind a historic night from its backfield.

After lightning delays pushed kickoff back nearly two hours, the Hornets took control early and never let go. Despite the miserable conditions, Sacramento State's offense looked unstoppable; the Hornets racked up a season-high 397 rushing yard, which featured three 100-yard rushers for the first time in program history.

Quarterback Cardell Williams led the way, rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns, while Rodney Hammond Jr. and JaQuil Smith each added more than 100 yards and two scores apiece. Smith entered the night with just two carries all season before erupting for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

The Wildcats struck first with a career-high 52-yard field goal from Sloan Calder, but the Hornets answered on the next possession as Williams scored his first of two rushing touchdowns, this one from 10 yards out after he helped orchestrate a 13-play, 64-yard drive that included four carries from Williams to make it 7-3 for Sacramento State.

The Hornets packed it on in the second quarter, scoring 21 points as Rodney Hammond Jr., JaQuail Smith, and Williams each ran for a touchdown. Hammond Jr. sprinted up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown one play after Henry Way's punt was muffed when he went to kick it away, resulting in great field position for Sacramento State.

Dijon Jennings, who made his first start of the season for Weber State, ran in a five-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats some life. However, a gusty call from Hornets head coach Brennan Marion on fourth down from their own side of the field extended Sacramento State's drive that ended with a Smith touchdown after a 82-yard drive that took all runs.

The rain may have subsided to begin the second half but the Hornets picked up where they left off as Hammond Jr. rushed for his second touchdown of the game, this one from eight yards out.

Weber State put together some good drives in the third quarter, scoring 10 straight points on another field goal from Calder and a 23-yard passing touchdown from Jennings to Chauncey Sylvester. Sacramento State answered when Williams punched in his third rushing touchdown of the game to push the lead back up to 21 after a missed PAT.

Sylvester and the Wildcats did not go quietly into the night as he scored his second touchdown of the game, this one coming on the ground from five yards out. Sylvester finished the game with a season-high in rushing and receiving yards as he finished with 83 yards rushing while adding 54 yards receiving.

"I like to approach practice with a great mindset," Sylvester said. "Every day I don't always feel 100 (percent) but I know I'm gonna have to prepare myself for Saturdays. It feels good to get back out there and get back into the groove of things, and as always, stay ready for opportunities like this."

After seeing the lead go down to 14, Hammond Jr. took the following kickoff 99-yards for a touchdown, capping off his great performance with his third touchdown of the night. Smith then ran for a 24-yard score on the team's next drive to put the finishing touches on a dominant 55-27 victory.

"Credit goes to Sac, they came out, ran the football really well, we couldn't catch up," Weber State head coach Mickey Mental said. "Had an opportunity late in the game or down 14 and let off a kickoff return to kind of seal it. We got to do a better job being more physical in the box, both offense and defense."

With the loss, Weber State (now 2-4) will look to regroup on the road next Saturday against Portland State. Sacramento State, riding high after a record-setting night, returns home to host Northern Colorado — a team coming off a big road win over Idaho.

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