GREELEY, Colo. – Sacramento State coach Marshall Sperbeck had his reasons for starting junior quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson over regular starter Jason Smith on Saturday.
The main reason was that Bethel-Thompson looked sharper in pregame warmups, and Smith, who had started every other game this season, was nursing an ailing shoulder.
In the end, it didn't really matter who started because the Hornets had their way with Northern Colorado – at least in the first half.
Ahead 31-0 at halftime, Sacramento State held on for a 38-35 victory at Nottingham Field.
Sacramento State (4-5, 4-3 Big Sky Conference) improved to 4-0 against Northern Colorado and kept its hopes alive of a winning season.
Ron Richardson hit fellow wide receiver Brandyn Reed with a 48-yard pass on a reverse for one score, and Bethel-Thompson threw his first touchdown pass of the season to key the first-half onslaught.
Northern Colorado (3-7, 1-6) got two second-half touchdown runs from quarterback Bryan Waggener and one from tailback Andre Harris and a fourth-quarter touchdown run from John Burnley to pull within three points.
However, the Hornets' Jon Krebs recovered the ensuing onside kick to preserve the victory.
"It was kind of a game of two different halves," Sperbeck said. "We came out and did everything right in the first half. They came out and did everything right in the second. In the end, we were able to hang on for the win."
Bethel-Thompson completed 13 of 22 passes for 133 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He got the first-team repititions in practice Tuesday and Wednesday but wasn't named the starter until just before kickoff.
He took the opportunity and ran with it.
"It's awesome. It's always just so fun to play," Bethel-Thompson said. "It's why you play the game."
It was especially that way in the first half. Running back Jake Croxdale, whose first start this season was almost by necessity, rushed for scores of four and two yards in the second quarter.
Croxdale had missed the previous six games because of a broken wrist suffered against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Despite having three pins inserted and finally getting cleared Tuesday to become the fifth starter in the backfield this year, the 5-foot-7, 190-pound sophomore showed no ill effects from the injury.
"I felt like I had no worries on getting back on the field. I have a lot of trust in our training staff and the people around me," Croxdale said. "The offensive line does a great job of taking care of me. I don't take too many hits."
Sac State started the season with six running backs but was down to one healthy one after last week's starter, freshman Sam McCowan, rolled an ankle in a victory over Northern Arizona.
The team hoped Croxdale would be able to carry the load Saturday so McCowan could rest. Croxdale more than did that, finishing with 107 yards for his second career 100-yard game.
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