On a warm, pleasant evening at Hornet Stadium, a seven-year drought ended.
The last time Sacramento State won its football season opener, John Volek was the coach, Ryan Leadingham the quarterback and Fred Amey the top receiver. With a different cast headlining the marquee Saturday night, the Hornets started on a winning note for the first time since 2001.
An announced crowd of 10,172 watched sophomore quarterback Jason Smith throw for two touchdowns and run for a third score and sophomore running backs Bryan Hilliard and Evander Wilkins combine for 208 rushing yards to carry Sacramento State to a 45-13 victory over Humboldt State.
"Winning the first one is always a big confidence builder," said senior linebacker Cyrus Mulitalo. "It's a big mental boost."
Which is exactly what second-year Sacramento State coach Marshall Sperbeck had in mind in playing the Division II Lumberjacks.
"It keeps the kids confident and gives you momentum," said Sperbeck, whose team finished 3-8 last season. "We're excited."
This game wasn't nearly as close as that 2001 season-opening win, a 13-6 overtime decision over Saint Mary's.
The visitors couldn't stop the Hornets' running backs. Hilliard, the starter, ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. Wilkins, the backup, gained 103 yards on 10 carries.
"Their running game is very impressive," Humboldt State coach Rob Smith said. "There's no way you can simulate that quickness and speed in practice."
Smith completed 11 of 16 passes for 129 yards before giving way to backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson in the fourth quarter.
"I felt a lot more comfortable," Smith said. "I learned so much within the past year."
The Hornets set the tone early. Sacramento State opted not to kick a field goal on a fourth-and-14 play from the Lumberjacks' 20-yard-line, with Smith finding Tony Washington in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown with 10 minutes, 47 seconds left in the first quarter.
Sacramento State stretched the lead to 14-0 on a two-yard run by Hilliard with 5:44 left in the opening quarter. The Hornets went ahead 21-0 after Ryan Battle recovered a fumble in the end zone with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter.
"I thought there was more good than bad," Sperbeck said.
"We did a good job eliminating a lot of mental mistakes."
Call The Bee's John Schumacher, (916) 326-5523.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.