The Sacramento State Football Tournament is just around the corner!

To the latest issue of Stingers Up: The Sacramento State Football PodcastHost and live commentator Jason Ross gave a preview of the Hornets’ offense and sat down for an interview with second-year head coach Andy Thompson.

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Meet Sacramento State Football Head Coach Andy Thompson

Courtesy of Sacramento State Athletics

Andy Thompson was named the 12th head coach in Sacramento State history on December 13, 2022. Thompson had been the Hornets’ defensive coordinator and linebacker since January 2019.

In his first season as head coach, Thompson led the Hornets to the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs and earned the team’s first Div. I postseason road victory. His eight wins were the second most by a first-year head coach in program history and the season’s highlight was a 30-23 victory at Stanford. Eleven players were named All-Big Sky selections, including linebacker Armon Bailey, safety Cameron Broussard, tight end Marshel Martin IV and tackle Jackson Slater, all of whom were selected to the first team.

Thompson saw the defense improve significantly from the previous year, as the team allowed 132 fewer yards per game during the 2019 season. Sacramento State led the Big Sky in defensive pass efficiency and red zone defense and the team recorded 44 sacks, the second-most in program history. Defensive end George Obinna was voted to the FCS All-America team by multiple quarters after setting Sacramento State’s season (14.0) and career record (33.5) for most sacks. Defensive tackle Dariyn Choates, cornerback Daron Bland and Obinna were each named to the All-Big Sky First Team. Linebackers Marcus Bruce and Marcus Hawkins and safety Caelan Barnes were all selected to the second team, defensive tackle Elijah Chambers was named to the third team and defensive end Josiah Erickson received honorable mention.

Thompson’s unit allowed that output at a rate of 19.1 points per game — the lowest in the school’s Div. I era. Sacramento State was even stingier in conference play, limiting opponents to 15.3 points per game and not allowing more than 24 points in any of its eight conference games. Six Hornets defenders earned All-Big Sky honors, led by defensive end Josiah Erickson, who was named to the first team. Erickson led the team with 18.5 tackles-for-loss and had 10 sacks. Linebacker Marcus Hawkins was named to the second team for the second time and was joined by cornerback Munchie Filer III and nickelback Marte Mapu.

Upcoming Sacramento State Football Schedule

• Thursday, August 29 @ San Jose State – 7:00 p.m. PDT
• Saturday, September 7 @ Fresno State – 7:00 PM PDT
• Saturday, September 14 vs. Nicholls – 6:00 p.m. PDT
• Saturday, September 21 @ Texas A&M-Commerce – 4:00 p.m. PDT
• Saturday, September 28 @ Northern Arizona – 1:00 p.m. PDT

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