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\n Football
\n 9\/8\/2026 2:17:00 PM
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\n Hornets and Bulldogs face one another for sixth time in school history
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\n Story Links
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A BRIEF PREVIEW<\/p>\n
\n\tComing off its first victory of the season, Sacramento State will play its only road football game in the state of California this season when it heads south to the San Joaquin Valley to play at Fresno State on Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
\n\tThis week’s game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network with Chris Lewis on play-by-play and former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Randy Cross as the analyst.
\n\tHornet fans can tune in to ESPN 1320 AM to hear the radio call of Jason Ross (play-by-play), Steve McElroy (analyst) and Danny Sullivan (sideline). Live audio streaming is also available via www.hornetsports.com and the Audacy app.
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STORYLINES<\/p>\n
ZIP, ZILCH, NADA, NOTHING<\/p>\n
NEXT MAN UP<\/p>\n
TRADING PLACES<\/p>\n
BLOCK PARTY<\/p>\n
PICK UP THE FLAG<\/p>\n
ONE AFTER ANOTHER<\/p>\n
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT<\/p>\n
LETS KICK IT<\/p>\n
SAFETY NET<\/p>\n
PLEASE DON’T RUN<\/p>\n
GETTING SACKS, ALLOWING NONE<\/p>\n
QUICK HITTERS<\/p>\n
\n\tSacramento State enters the game with a 1-1 overall\u00a0 record following a 52-0 blanking of Mississippi Valley State last Saturday in front of a record-breaking crowd at Hornet Stadium.
\n\tQuarterback Jackson Sharman<\/a> made his first career start and responded by throwing for 247 yards and four touchdowns, including three to wide receiver Matt Coleman<\/a>. Sharman was given the start after opening-day starter Carson Conklin<\/a> was ruled out due to an injury.
\n\tThe Hornet defense limited the Delta Devils to only 147 total yards and just 43 through the air.
\n\tThe victory was the first for head coach Alonzo Carter<\/a> at the NCAA level. Carter previously served as a head coach at the high school and junior college levels.
\n\tThe team will be making its sixth trip to Fresno State in school history with Sacramento State still in search of its first win.
\n\tThe Hornets will be the home opener for the Bulldogs for the second time in the last three years.
\n\tBoth teams are in a new conference in 2026. Sacramento State moved to the MAC this fall while Fresno State shifted to the Pac-12. The teams met first met in 1972 when the Hornets were in the Far Western Conference and the Bulldogs in the PCAA. In 2007, Sacramento State was in the Big Sky and Fresno State in the WAC. The last three meetings have seen FS in the Mountain West.
\n\tFresno State had the challenge of opening the season at No. 14 USC last Friday at the Coliseum. The Trojans cruised to a 39-0 victory and held the Bulldogs to 116 yards of total offense while picking 552 yards of their own.
\n\tThe game marked the first time since 1944 that Fresno State was shutout in its season opener.
\n\tJayden Mandal earned the start at quarterback and completed 7-of-15 passes for 77 yards and an interception. Mandal scored a two-point conversion against the Hornets when the teams last met in 2024.
\n\tFresno State head coach Matt Entz’ son, Konner, is a pitcher for the Hornet baseball team.
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\n\tSacramento State recorded the 32nd shutout in school history with its 52-0 win over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday. The shutout was just the fifth against an NCAA Div. I (FBS\/FCS) opponent.
\n\tPrior to Saturday, the last shutout was a 34-0 win at East Texas A&M (then Texas A&M Commerce) on Sept. 21, 2024. The last shutout at home came on Oct. 21, 2021 when the Hornets blanked Northern Arizona, 44-0.
\n\tThe 52-point margin of victory was the third-largest in a shutout on school history, trailing only a 76-0 win over San Francisco in 1969 and a 60-0 victory over Cal Lutheran in 1988.
\n\tOverall, the 52-point win was fifth-largest in school history.
\n\tThe 147 yards of offense allowed by the Hornet defense is the fewest by the team since surrendering 72 in a rain-soaked game at Northern Colorado in Oct. 8, 2011.
\n\tThe 43 passing yards by the Delta Devils were the fewest by a Hornet opponent since Cal Poly managed just 16 in its triple-option offense on Oct. 6, 2018.\u00a0
\n\tThe six first downs by MVSU were the fewest since Northern Colorado had five in 2011.
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\n\tJackson Sharman<\/a> took the reins of the Hornet offense and responded with 247 passing yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi Valley State. Sharman was thrown into action with opening-day starter Carson Conklin<\/a> was ruled out with an injury to his throwing arm.\u00a0
\n\tSharman, who was making his second collegiate start, completed 18-of-28 passes while becoming the 35th quarterback to start a game for the Hornets in the school’s Div. I-era. Sharman’s four touchdown passes tied him for 10th in school history and he became the 16th QB to throw at least four TDs in a game all-time for the Hornets.
\n\tHaving to make a change at quarterback is nothing new for Sacramento State. This season marks the fourth consecutive year that the team has started two QBs during the first four weeks of the season. In 2023, Carson Camp started at Nicholls in the opener but was replaced by Kaiden Bennett at halftime. The following year, Bennett was the starter at San Jose State before giving way to Conklin. Last season, Jaden Rashada<\/a> started the first two games but was replaced by Cardell Williams<\/a>. Prior to those seasons, Sacramento State used a designed two quarterback system with Jake Dunniway and Asher O’Hara splitting time.
\n\tSharman, a transfer from Idaho State, had never thrown more than two touchdowns in a collegiate game prior to last Saturday. His four TDs passes are tied with Dunniway (2019), Ricky Ray (1999) and Tyler Jesse (1996) for the school record for most in a starting debut.\u00a0
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\n\tMatt Coleman<\/a> became the second Hornet receiver in as many games to record a career-best performance. Against Mississippi Valley State, Coleman caught six passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns. He scored on catches of 5, 19 and 63 yards in the game to become the first Hornet player with three receiving TDs in a game since Pierre Williams against Southern Oregon on Aug. 31, 2019.
\n\tColeman became the 59th Hornet to record a 100-yard receiving game. His 141 yards ranks are tied for the 68th best in school history and his three TDs are tied for fourth behind DeAndre Carter’s five against Southern Oregon (2013) and Carter (vs. Southern Utah, 2014) and Chris Kelly (at Montana, 1999) who had four.
\n\tColeman began his collegiate career at San Jose State and played under current Hornet head coach Alonzo Carter<\/a> and receivers coach Eric Scott<\/a> with the Spartans. His biggest game for SJSU game in the 2024 Hawaii Bowl where he had 12 catches for 119 yards and scored two touchdowns against South Florida.
\n\tThe week before, Onterrio Smith Jr.<\/a> set career bests with nine receptions for 88 yards at Eastern Michigan. Those numbers more than doubled his career totals entering the game as Smith had seven receptions for 45 yards in his first two seasons.
\n\tFootball runs in the family for both Coleman and Smith. Coleman’s father, Herman, played quarterback at Southern from 1980-83 while Smith’s dad, Onterrio Sr., was a running back at Tennessee (1999) and Oregon (200-023) before playing in the NFL and CFL.
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\n\tPrior to this season, Sacramento State had not blocked a punt since Andre Lindsey did it against Idaho State in 2016. That drought ended when Chakai Scott<\/a> blocked one at Eastern Michigan to set up a field goal and get the team its first points of the season.
\n\tWhile the previous gap was 10 years between blocks, the most recent span was just seven days as Scott rejected the first punt of the night for Mississippi Valley State, leading to a Hornet touchdown.
\n\tThe freshman from Ocoee, Fla., is the only player in the FBS to block multiple kicks\/punts through the first two weeks of the season.
\n\tOver the last 20 years, Scott is only the third Hornet to block two punts in a season joining Zach Schrader in 2010 and Chase Deadder in 2011. During that span, Christian Clark was credited with three blocks but all three of his came on PATs.
\n\tSacramento State, San Diego State and Virginia Tech are the only FBS teams to block multiple punts this season.
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\n\tAfter being called for 10 penalties at Eastern Michigan for 85 yards, Sacramento State was whistled for four infractions for 35 yards against Mississippi Valley State.
\n\tThe numbers also flipped for the Hornet opposition as MVSU was called for 11 penalties for 117 yards which was a significant increase from the three flags for 25 yards that were called on EMU the week earlier.
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\n\tSeven Sacramento State players had rushing attempts in the game against Mississippi Valley State, including five running backs. The team combined for 203 rushing yards and saw three players find the end zone.
\n\tFor the second consecutive week, a newcomer led the team as JC transfer Daniel Swinney<\/a> saw his first action as a Hornet and tallied 58 rushing yards and a TD.
\n\tThat performance followed true freshman Isaiah Ene<\/a> leading the team with 44 rushing yards at Eastern Michigan.
\n\tAlong with the TD from Swinney, Jamar Curtis<\/a> and quarterback Jaylen Patterson<\/a> also scored. The touchdown for Curtis was his 34th career rushing TD while Patterson tallied his first on his initial college touch.
\n\tNo player on the team received more than nine carries and Sacramento State averaged 5.0 yards per attempt. The team finished with only 12 lost yards with seven coming on a wide receiver jet sweep and two on the final kneel downs to end the game.\u00a0
\n\tCurtis has 55 rushing yards on the season and now ranks second among all active FBS players in career yards.
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\n\tSacramento State’s eight scoring drives against the Delta Devils nearly spanned the full length of the field. The team had two drives shorter than 20 yards which were setup by a blocked punt and a strip sack and resulted in touchdowns.
\n\tOn the other end of the spectrum was an eight-play, 98 yard scoring drive which took 3:13 off the clock and was capped by the 63-yard pass from Sharman to Coleman.
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\n\tPunter Hamish Adams<\/a> punted three times against MVSU and averaged 41.3 yards per punt without allowing a return yard. Adams is now averaging 39.5 yards per punt this season with six of his 10 being downed inside the opponent 20-yard line and eight punts forcing a fair catch.
\n\tKicker Grant Meadors<\/a> had a much busier days against the Delta Devils. Meadors made all six of his PATs and added a 25-yard field goal. He also cracked the school top 10 in career PATs.
\n\tFirst-year kicker Saul Marks<\/a> also made his debut and made his only PAT attempt. Marks and Meadors split kickoff duties with each taking four.
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\n\tSafeties Boogsie Silvera<\/a> and Amari Wallace<\/a> lead Sacramento State in tackles through the first two games.\u00a0 The pair, who are both in their first season with the team, have 20 and 10 tackles, respectively.
\n\tSilvera came to the Hornets after stops at Charleston Southern, McNeese and South Florida. He now has 225 career tackles. Silvera opened the year with 13 tackles at EMU and followed with seven against Mississippi Valley State. He led the team in both games.
\n\tWallace was a member of a Miami team which reached the CFP championship a year ago. He had seven tackles against the Eagles and was credited with three on Saturday. Wallace is also the only underclassmen to be named to the team’s leadership council this season.
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\n\tAmong FBS teams which have played two games this season, Sacramento State ranks fourth nationally while allowing 86.5 yards per game. The Hornets gave up 69 rushing yards ay EMU and 104 against MVSU.
\n\tNorth Dakota State leads the group at 52.0 rushing yards allowed and are followed USC (70.5) and Stanford (83.5).
\n\tAmong all FBS teams, Sacramento State is 50th in rush defense. Leading the way is Arizona and Virginia Tech which gave up minus-7 and minus-4 rushing yards in their opening game.
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\n\tThe Sacramento State defense combined for four sacks against Mississippi Valley State while the offensive line kept the Delta Devils off the quarterback.
\n\tAgainst MVSU, Nick Dimitris<\/a>, Diego Davis<\/a>, Collin Kallhoff<\/a> and Malachi Kindle<\/a> each had sacks. That followed Fata Puloka<\/a> and Alex Rocha<\/a> each having a sack at EMU giving the team six players with one sack through the first two games.
\n\tThe Hornets have also made the most of their opportunities, forcing a strip sack in both games which have led to touchdowns.
\n\tTaking it a step further, 15 Hornets have at least a half-TFL this season but only Rocha (2.0) and Wallace (1.5) have more than one.
\n\tOn the other side of the ball, Sacramento State did not give up a sack despite playing 10 different linemen in the game.\u00a0
\n\tThe starting unit of Shontrail Key<\/a>, Brandon Sousa<\/a>, Bryson Summers<\/a>, Vae Soifua<\/a> and Jeremiah Stallworth<\/a> continue to jell despite seeing very little time together as a unit. Injuries and illnesses throughout training camp prevented the group from practicing together until the final two days prior to the first game.
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\n\tSacramento State has won at least seven games in five of the last six seasons. The Hornets were one of 12 FCS programs to hit that mark. The team went 48-27 during that stretch and reached at least the second round of the FCS Playoffs four times.
\n\tLinebacker Derek Houston<\/a> was placed on the watch list for the Allstate Good Hands team as well as the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy this summer. Both of those awards recognize the off-the-field community service accomplishments by student-athletes.
\n\tThe forced fumble by Fata Puloka<\/a> at EMU was the third of his career and his first since 2024.
\n\tDefensive lineman Xavier Williams<\/a> scored the team’s first touchdown of the year with a 29-yard fumble return at EMU. The TD was the first for Williams in college but his brother, Pierre, had 24 as an FCS All-American receiver for the Hornets. The pair are the second set of brothers to score TDs for the team in the last 20 years, joining Elijah and Isaiah Gable who each scored in 2021.
\n\t30 of the 54 players who saw action against the Eagles were playing in their first game with Sacramento State.
\n\tEight players combined for seven total tackles-for-loss at EMU.
\n\tSacramento State played 72 players against MVSU and had eight players with a carry, nine catch a pass and 29 record a tackle.
\n\tThe crowd of 18,523 against Mississippi Valley State was the largest for a home opener for Sacramento State and the fifth-largest for all games for the program.\u00a0
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Football
9\/8\/2026 2:17:00 PM
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