Hornets close the regular season at home against UC Davis in the Causeway Classic

HILLSBORO, OR (MPG) — The No. 2 ranked Sacramento State football team remained unbeaten, earned its school-record 10th regular season victory and dominated Portland State in a 45-17 win at Hillsboro Stadium on a cold Friday night.

The Hornets are now 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the Big Sky Conference. The 10 wins breaks the school regular season record of nine which came in 2019 and 2021. It also equals the best win total for any season, matching the effort of the 1988 team which ended the year 10-3 with the help of two NCAA Div. II playoff wins.

Sacramento State has now won 18 consecutive Big Sky games which is the second longest streak in league history. The team has also won 14 straight road games against FCS teams, and 10 road games against all opponents — the longest streak in FBS or FCS.

The game had a wild start with three combined fumbles, two plays of at least 30 yards, and a touchdown in the first six minutes. The Vikings took the opening kickoff and picked up 33 yards on their first play of the game. The team then coughed it up on the next play and the ball was recovered by Brock Mather.

Sacramento State quickly gained 44 yards on a pass from Asher O'Hara to Pierre Williams to get inside the 10-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-goal, Asher O'Hara tried to spin his way into the end zone but had the ball knocked loose and recovered by PSU for a touchback.

Two plays later, Portland State attempted a trick play with a double reverse which was bobbled on the toss and recovered by Killian Rosko inside the 20. Sacramento State finally broke through with a 5-yard pass from O'Hara to Williams to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead.

The Hornets added to their lead early in the second quarter with a 41-yard field goal from Kyle Sentkowski. The Hornets brought the ball to the 11-yard line during the drive but were driven back to the 23 following a sack on third down. A strong headwind was no challenge for Sentkowski who made his 12th consecutive field goal this year.

The lead continued to grow with a 7-play, 80-yard drive which resulted in a touchdown with 7:49 left in the second quarter. The big play during the drive was a 41-yard rush from Cameron Skattebo and the drive ended with a 4-yard pass from Jake Dunniway to Pierre Williams for the score. The score marked, surprisingly, just the second multi-touchdown game of Williams' brilliant career. The second score moved him into a tie with Marshel Martin for third place in school history with 21 receiving TDs.

After a three-and-out from the defense, the offense kept rolling with a 5-play, 73-yard drive which ended with a 39-yard TD run from O'Hara for his longest rush of the season. The touchdown also extended O'Hara's streak to all 10 games of this season and 12 straight games dating back to last year.

Sacramento State needed just three plays to score on the first series of the second half. The drive was setup by a 38-yard kickoff return from Elijah Tao-Tolliver. Jake Dunniway then found Williams for a 51-yard gain which pushed the receiver over the century mark. Marcus Fulcher then cut back to his left for a 4-yard score just 70 seconds into the half.

Portland State started the second half with senior Nathan West at quarterback. The Vikings ran on the first 11 plays of the drive and were able to bring the ball into the red zone before settling for a 32-yard field goal from Gianni Smith for the team's first points.

Sacramento State answered with another quick touchdown drive. After Skattebo went over 100 yards during the series, Fulcher took an option toss from O'Hara and eluded defenders for a 35-yard score.

The fourth quarter had another wild stretch. The Hornets first stopped Portland State inside the 1-yard line on fourth down. The offense moved the ball out of the shadow of its own goalpost but fumbled. That turnover set up a 36-yard touchdown rush from Quincy Craig for Portland State's first touchdown.

The Viks then attempted an onsides kick which was picked cleanly by Martin who returned it 45 yards for a touchdown.

Sacramento State finished the game with 451 yards on just 56 plays for an average of 8.1 yards per play. The team rushed for 237 yards and threw for 214.

The quarterback tandem of Dunniway and O'Hara combined to complete 15-of-21 passes with each throwing a touchdown without an interception.

Sacramento State's final regular season game will come on Nov. 19 in the Causeway Classic against UC Davis at 2 p.m. The Hornets can clinch at least a share of the Big Sky title with a win.

ROCKLIN, CA (MPG) – Sometimes in sports, you are just simply overmatched.

The Jesuit varsity football team experienced that feeling Friday night on the road at Rocklin, a 34-13 loss in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Division II CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs. The No. 5 seed Marauders (9-3) trailed the No. 4 seed Thunder (8-3) at halftime 24-0.

Jesuit scored its first points of the night in the fourth quarter trailing 27-0. The Marauders began their first scoring drive with great field position in Rocklin territory following a fumble by Thunder senior quarterback Joey Roberts.

Junior quarterback CJ Lee found senior wide receiver Trenton Dewar for a five-yard strike to end the shutout with just under 10 minutes left. Rocklin responded with another touchdown.

RELATED: Marauders maul Jaguars in playoff opener

The Marauders’ other score came on the ground from two yards out by senior running back Jagger Shaddix with seconds remaining. The Thunder ultimately won 34-13.

All four of the Thunder’s scores were of the rushing variety. Senior running backs Mason Silva and Elias Brown each scored two touchdowns and averaged over five yards a carry, respectively. Silva led the way with 17 rushes for 85 yards. Brown recorded 13 carries for 66 yards.

RELATED: Jesuit remains unbeaten in league with win at Cosumnes Oaks

Roberts completed 10-of-14 passes for 123 yards through the air. He didn’t have as much success via the ground attack, rushing two times for negative five yards and a lost fumble.

The Thunder were led defensively by senior strong safety Eli Hardy who racked up 10 total tackles with eight of them solo and one interception. The Jesuit statistics were unavailable as of press time.

Rocklin will play at No. 1 seed Manteca on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the semifinals of the D2 bracket.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Few people born in 1922 rise early, fetch the newspaper and read every page before the rest of the household is at breakfast.

Elsie Hall was driving a car well into her 90s. She still reads voraciously, plays piano (she has only to hear a tune to play it) and is amusing in conversation.

The secret, says Elsie, is to “Stay busy, stay active. I never drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes. I have good health and I thank God for my life. I’ve had some problems, but it’s all been worth it.”

Her birthday party filled the American River Community Church with friends and relatives. The family photo contained 19 great and 21 great-great grandkids – with three more on the way.

Much of the matriarch’s life has been devoted to children. Elsie and daughter Nancy McCreery launched Wonder-Land Christian Pre-School at their church in 1968. Long after each of their retirements, the school thrives.

Born in Canada, Elsie entered the United States as a child and grew up in Camas, WA. She recalls a fifth-grade teacher who decided her hair was too long and scissored it off. “Imagine the lawsuit these days,” says the retired teacher. “I was embarrassed and wore a hat every day after that. Back then, teachers weren’t disciplined. They were considered next to God.”

Lacking money for lessons, she taught herself piano. Tap dance tuition happened secretly; her Baptist parents considered dancing sinful. A church member spotted Elsie jigging to the radio in a friend’s house and reported her to church deacons. On senior prom night, she and her date walked around town in their formal clothes. “These rules were hard because I loved to dance,” she says. “So I filled my time with sport.” In exchange for cleaning her teacher’s home, she learned to play violin.

During the Great Depression, she and her brother often invited hungry men home. “Mother never knew how many she needed to feed, but was always happy to share,” she recalls. “When canning time came, we sat on the back porch, preparing whatever came from our garden. We had no idea we were poor. We made up games. Technology was not a word we knew. I still believe simple is best.”

Learning to roller skate at 17, she fell in love with rink manager and watch-maker Carl Hall. At 18, she bought an $8 wedding gown and married her skating partner. “We had a day for our honeymoon and drove to the coast,” she says. “We picked up a soldier who was hitch-hiking. Then we had a flat tire. I was glad he was there to help, but our honeymoon was not as I’d imagined.”

Her watchmaker husband’s skill with instruments led to work in Idaho, then Portland. When WW II began, Carl joined the Army but stayed stateside, finessing airplane instruments. Both Hall children – Nancy and Tom – were war babies.

Moving to Oregon after the war, Elsie rented an old school building and taught kindergarten classes. The Halls’ migration to California came in 1958. Settling in Carmichael, they joined the American River Community Church (then called First Baptist Church of Carmichael).

Skip a decade. Carl worked for Grebetis Jewelers; Elsie checked groceries for Raley’s and Nancy worked for the Post Office. Together, mom and daughter returned to college for education credentials. They started Wonder-Land as a morning preschool. By the 1970s, it was an all-day service schooling children up to 12 years.

Wonder-Land kids still hear Bible stories. “Faith was always the basis of our education,” explains Elsie. “We taught children Jesus loved them and wanted them to do what was right.”

Elsie lost Carl in 2011 and never remarried. When she retired after 38 Wonder-Land years, Nancy became principal. Mother, daughter and son-in-law Nick McCreery now live together.

“A career with children is a life well spent,” Elsie considers. “God allowed my daughter and me to be part of so many lives. Our former students are preachers, teachers, lawyers, doctors – and parents. They’re proof that we did something worthwhile.”

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Eagle Scout candidate Zaven Gee has nailed much-needed renovations to an Effie Yeaw Nature Center deck.

Over two weekends, he led work that topped the Carmichael facility’s must-do list. Zaven’s assignment included replacing 500 square feet of dry-rotted wood. The Orangevale Scout and supporters then sanded and stained new boards and positioned metal ramps for ADA access. “Our renovation will allow staff to add enclosures and cabinets to use the deck for outdoor classes,” he explained.

The 17-year-old Casa Roble High senior has enjoyed the center since childhood and previously helped build its aviary. Fellow Troop 144 members and parents bolstered deck restoration.

At a cost of $1500 – for lumber and other materials – funding was met by Zaven’s community outreach. “People gave $1000 in my first week of fundraising,” he reported. “That shows they think the Nature Center is a good cause.”

Eagle status is a final step in many Scouting careers. To achieve the rank, candidates must complete a project beneficial to community – incorporating skills learned as Scouts. “My project would have been hard without my dad,” admitted Zaven. “As a machinist, dad (Ricky Gee) was the backbone of the process. He knows his way around tools and motivates me to get things done.”

The completed deck crowns Zaven’s eight years as a Scout. “I like how the organization encourages young people to give back,” he considered. “I’ll feel good when I see my project helping education at Effie Yeaw. Learning about nature is good for the whole world.”

Learn about Boy Scouts of America at www.scouting.org.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - On Monday, November 7, 2022, just before 3:00 am, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crews were dispatched to a working commercial structure fire at the Sunset No-Al Club on the 5800 block of Gibbons Dr., in Carmichael.

Crews arrived to find fire from the front door, and smoke and fire spreading throughout the attic space which very quickly led to 20’ flame lengths burning through the roof. Fortunately, crews kept the overhead vegetation from burning, which could’ve damaged additional structures.

A partial roof collapse did present a safety concern for the crews, but they were still able to perform an aggressive interior search for victims and extinguish the blaze. No injuries were reported, and now the fire is under investigation.

FRESNO, CA (MPG) – An impressive season came to an end Tuesday night in Fresno as the Rio Americano girls varsity volleyball team lost to Clovis North in the first round of the 2022 Division II CIF State Girls Volleyball Championships.

The No. 16 seed Raiders (34-9) lost to the No. 1 seed Broncos (25-10) three sets to one. Clovis controlled the first set, nearly doubling up Rio, winning 25-13. The Raiders responded in the next set, but still fell short, 25-19.

Facing elimination with its season on the line, Rio fought back in the third set and took it 25-18. However, Clovis put the match away in the fourth set with a narrow margin of victory at 25-21 to advance to the next round.

RELATED: Raiders lose in Division II playoff semifinals

The Broncos will take on No. 9 seed Escalon in the second round on Thursday night at 6 p.m.

Despite the defeat in the first round of the state tournament, the Raiders should be very proud of themselves. Qualifying for state is an accomplishment in itself.

Rio finished with a perfect 14-0 record in Capital Athletic League play, earning the eighth CAL championship in program history and the second in three years. The Raiders won both section playoff games played at home, sweeping Golden Valley on October 25 and defeating Tracy in five sets two days later.

RELATED: Rio Americano girls volleyball team advances to semifinals of D2 playoffs

John Grix has been a coach at Rio since 2001 and the varsity head coach since 2006. Grix and assistant Gary Garot will have most of their team returning next season, as only three players will be graduating in the Class of 2023: outside hitter Nikita Rogaski, defensive specialist Mae Hutchinson and outside hitter Lulu Voss.

Boys volleyball season begins in March. The quest for back-to-back CAL titles for the ladies starts in August.