Slow starts have plagued the Mustangs throughout the 2023 season.

On Saturday, however, the Mustangs’ offense was successful early against Sacramento State, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and keeping up with the No. 11 Hornets throughout the game.

Sacramento State ultimately emerged victorious 41-30, but the Mustangs offense had arguably its best game of the season against a top-25 FCS opponent that had defeated Stanford earlier this season.

Early in the game, redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Huard found redshirt sophomore receiver Michael Briscoe 43 yards down the field on the first play, and the Mustangs made it into the red zone before redshirt freshman Noah Serna put Cal Poly ahead first with a 26-yard field goal.

After the Mustangs’ first drive, Sacramento State responded with two touchdowns to take a 14-3 lead that it would never relinquish. But the Mustangs’ first offensive drive helped set the tone for a thrilling game.

Huard had 37 completions on 58 attempts and threw for 483 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Huard now holds the all-time Cal Poly record for completions in a game. His mark of 37 surpassed Seth Buford’s record of 34 completions set in 2000.

Earlier this season, Huard tied for the second-highest completion count in Cal Poly history with 31 in the team’s only conference win over Northern Colorado. The transfer from the University of Washington now holds the first and second completion records in program history.

Giancarlo Woods caught 10 passes for 107 yards. Briscoe caught three passes for 124 yards and scored two touchdowns. Bryson Allen caught seven passes for 116 yards and Dominique Thompson also caught seven passes for 94 yards.

Late in the second quarter, Huard connected with Briscoe for a 52-yard touchdown. Then the defense had one of its best series of the day, forcing a three-and-out that put the Mustangs offense within field goal range with less than a minute to play. Serna converted the kick for his second field goal of the day, cutting the score to 28-23.

However, the Hornets were back within shooting range within 18 seconds and converted their own field goal as time expired, putting them back in the lead by 8 points.

After Paul Holyfield scored with a 3-yard run to make it 38-30 late in the third quarter, Sac State increased the lead to 11 with another field goal.

Huard had a chance to put Cal Poly back in the game with 9 minutes left, but his pass was intercepted at the Sac State 10-yard line by Gavin Davis-Smith, who made both of the Hornets’ interceptions on the day.

While the offense had an outstanding day, the defense could not slow down Sac State’s running game.

The Hornets totaled 225 yards on 37 carries, which equates to 6.1 yards per carry and two touchdowns. With a functioning running game, Sac State quarterback Carson Conklin completed 17 of his 26 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns.

Redshirt junior defensive end Elijiah Ponder recorded a sack and led the team with six tackles, including one for loss. Donovan Saunders had an interception for the Mustangs that stopped a Sac State charge and led to Holyfield’s touchdown.

The Mustangs will play their final game of the season on Saturday, November 18th at home against Weber State.