Issue date: 11/8/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jason Finley Hornet Defensive Back Deionte Gordon gives his teammates a smile as he prepares to run out onto the field after defeating the UC Davis Aggies in the 55th Causeway Classic ending an 8 game losing streak to the Aggies. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Jason Finley Hornet Tony Washington pumps up his teammates after scoring a first half touchdown against the UC Davis Aggies in the 55th Annual Causeway Classic. The Hornets went on to defeat the Aggies 29-19 ending an 8 game losing streak dating back to 1999 [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Jason Finley Hornet Linebacker Mike Hickman celebrates after the Sacramento State defence recovered a UC Davis fumble. [Click to enlarge]

The Sacramento State Hornet football team beat UC Davis 29 to 19 on Saturday for the first time since 1999 when Ricky Ray and J.T. O'Sullivan were the quarterbacks.

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The Hornets beat Eastern Washington the previous weekend 15 to 13 making this the first time the Hornets have won consecutive road games since 2002. The game at the new Aggie stadium was sold out by 12:30p.m. that day and the attendance reached 10,317 fans.

"This is a turning point for Sac State's tradition (against UC Davis)," said senior middle linebacker Cyrus Mulitalo.

On the opening drive of the game, the Hornets scored within the first three minutes of the first quarter. They made the touchdown with a 29-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jason Smith to senior wide receiver Tony Washington. Junior defensive end Kyle Hill was the ball holder for the point after and ended up recovering from his fumble and rushing for a two-point conversion. This was not planned and was not in the Hornet playbook.

"Kyle was just ad-libbing. I might have to draw up that play (for the future) though," said Head Coach Marshall Sperbeck.

The Hornets were then able to stop the Aggies' first drive down the field, which got the Hornet players and fans pumped up. Then the Hornets drove down the field again and within six plays made another touchdown with a 35-yard pass to Washington. This time the Hornets stuck with just a point after. By this time sophomore running back Bryan Hilliard already had seven carries for 44 yards total. But, the Hornets couldn't keep the Aggies away from the end zone for too long. After the Hornets scored, the Aggies finally had a successful drive that ended in a touchdown. The ending score for the first quarter was 15 to 7.

In the beginning of the second quarter the Hornets were finally stopped and then the Aggies scored another touchdown under two minutes from the start of the drive. But, UC Davis tried to put more points on the board by attempting a two-point conversion and failed. In UC Davis' next drive, they tried for a fourth down conversion, but junior defensive end Kevin Moore sacked the Aggies quarterback stopping the drive. The Hornets took advantage of the field location and the two penalties the Aggies received during the Hornets drive for pass interference and offside. So, Sac State was able to score another touchdown when Smith rushed for one yard ending the first half 22 to 13.

"Before the game, people were taking this game seriously. At half time we knew we had this," said Washington.

During the first drive of the third quarter, senior cornerback Kevin Davis caused a forced fumble and freshman defensive end Zack Nash was able to recover the ball. The Hornets scored on that drive with a 2-yard pass completion to Washington. At this point, Washington caught four passes totaling 81 yards and made three touchdowns.

Five minutes into the fourth quarter Mulitalo intercepted a pass for the second time this season. The Hornets then received two penalties on their drive and Smith was hit hard hurting his ankle injury he received earlier in the season. He was replaced by sophomore third string quarterback Duncan White. UC Davis then put the final points on the board when they made a touchdown. The Aggies tried for another two-point conversion, bringing in their backup quarterback and failed. Their onside kick failed as well. Then the Hornets ended the game when sophomore safety Peter Buck intercepted a pass in the end zone and ran for 34 yards.

"We've got two weeks of unfinished business left. Today we'll enjoy it then go back to practice and focus on the next game," said Sperbeck.

The Hornets final home game will be against Northern Colorado at 2:05p.m. on Nov. 15 and then will play Idaho State on the road on Nov. 22 to end the season.

Taylor Collis can be reached at tcollis@statehornet.com

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