Garrett Safron threw for a touchdown and ran for another and Zack Nash had five sacks, helping Sacramento State defeat Idaho State 24-9 at Hornet Stadium on Saturday night.
The victory snapped the Hornets’ three-game losing streak entering their rivalry game next Saturday against UC Davis.
Nash’s five sacks helped him set the Sac State career record (29.5). The team also tied a school record with 10 sacks in game.
The low score was indicative of a game that was full of oddities. It started with the Hornets fumbling on a reverse kickoff return. It keep rolling with two incomplete passes on fake punts by Idaho State and two fumbles lost by Safron in the first half.
Safron started in place of Jeff Fleming, who suffered a concussion in last Saturday’s game at Portland State. Safron played the entire first half rather than swapping snaps with sophomore Tommy Edwards. Edwards started the second half, but Safron got the majority of the playing time.
Safron gave the Hornets the lead for good when he ran 34 yards on a fourth-down-and-two with 3:27 left in the third quarter. The Bengals bit on the fake and Safron ran untouched into the end zone. The freshman then threw to Morris Norrise for the two-point conversion, giving Sac State at 16-9 lead.
The Hornets sealed the game with 2:34 left when tailback Brian Hilliard ran 3 yards for a touchdown and then ran for the two-point conversion. The score was set up by a 40-yard sideline pass from Safron to John Hendershott.
The Bengals had taken a 9-8 lead with 6:37 left in the third quarter on Brian Garcia’s third field goal, a 23-yarder. In the first half, Garcia made a 29-yarder and a 32-yarder.
The Hornets’ only score in the first half was Safron’s 5-yard touchdown pass to DJ Maciel in the back of the end zone. Safron also connected with T.J. Knowles for the two-point conversion, giving Sac State an 8-3 lead.
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