Sacramento State enters the game with a 2-6 overall record. The five-game losing streak is the longest since the squad dropped seven in a row in 1997. Last week, Sacramento State committed seven turnovers in a 43-0 loss to UC Davis. The loss marked the second time this season that the team has been shut out and was the worst defeat against the Aggies since losing 51-6 in 1982.

Cal State Northridge is currently 1-6. The Matadors were beaten by Eastern Washington last week, 63-35. In the game, CSN led 35-28 with 14 minutes left in the game but EWU scored 35 unanswered points to seal the game.

This game could possibly mark the final meeting between the two schools. Cal State Northridge, which played in the Big Sky from 1996-2000, moved to the Big West in 2001. That move forced the football team to become independent. Earlier this year, the university recommended that the football program be terminated at the end of the season.

Entering Saturday’s game, the two schools have met 28 times with each team winning 14 games. Last year, Sacramento State walked away with a 64-61 victory at Hornet Stadium. In that game, the teams combined for an NCAA Div. I-AA record 125 points. CSN also set a I-AA record for most points by a team in a loss. The 18 combined TDs broke the previous I-AA mark of 17. Hornet QB Ricky Ray (344) and CSN quarterback Marcus Brady (493) also combined for 837 passing yards.

With a Win...

• Sacramento State will snap its five-game losing streak.

• The Hornets will have won at Northridge for the first time since a 20-16 win in 1995.

• Sacramento State will take a 15-14 advantage in the all-time series.

• The team will have won a road game for the first time this season.

• John Volek will improve to 4-3 against CSN.

With a Loss...

• Sacramento State will have lost six-straight games, the longest streak since 1997 (seven games).

• Cal State Northridge will take a 15-14 edge in the all-time series.

• The Matadors will have defeated the Hornets three-straight times at North Campus Stadium.

• Meet the Coaches

Head coach John Volek is in his seventh season at Sacramento State. Volek has guided the Hornets to winning records each of the past two seasons, including a I-AA school record 7-4 mark in 2000.

The UC Riverside graduate has built a high-powered offense which has set 30 offensive team records and 41 individual records. He has also had seven players go on to sign NFL contracts.

Volek’s coaching career began at UCR. He then moved to Santa Cruz High School before moving to Mt. San Jacinto JC. From there, Volek headed north to Walla Walla JC where he was an assistant and then head coach (1984-87). He later returned to California to lead Fresno City JC from 1988-94 before taking over at Sacramento State.

Volek enters the week with a 26-47-1 overall record but has posted a 20-17 mark over the last four years (1998-present).

Cal State Northridge is guided by Jeff Kearin. In his third season with the Matadors, Kearin owns a 10-19 overall record.

A Look at the Hornets

• Into the Record Book

There is no question that Terence Wagner would trade setting a record for a victory. Unfortunately, the senior center had to settle for the record in last week’s game against UC Davis.

When Wagner took the field on the team’s first offensive play, he officially started his 41st-straight game. That mark surpassed the previous record of 40 starts by Jeff Hoffman.

If the loss wasn’t painful enough for Wagner, the Sacramento native suffered a knee injury during the fourth quarter which forced him to miss the remainder of the game. Wagner, however, is probable for this week’s game at Cal State Northridge which will keep the streak alive.

A preseason All-American by numerous publications, Wagner has attracted the interest of all 32 NFL teams this fall. He has also accepted an invitation to play in the Gridiron Classic in Orlando, Fla. The game pits a team of Florida all-stars against the rest of the United States.

• Keep on Rolling

Freshman Kendall Riley continued his impressive stint as a starter against UC Davis. Riley rushed for 91 yards on 16 carries against the Aggies. The Johnson HS grad averaged 5.7 yards per carry before missing most of the fourth quarter with a tender knee.

Over the last two games, Riley is averaging 102.0 yards and 5.51 yards per carry. He has also scored a pair of TDs.

Against Eastern Washington, he tallied 113 yards on 21 carries to become just the second Hornet this season to cross the century mark.

His status for this week is still unknown. The freshman had an MRI performed on Monday to check if there is tear in his MCL.

• Mbewa-tch

Camron Mbewa has become one of the most feared hitters in the Big Sky. The strong safety has proven over the past two weeks that he is not afraid to tackle anyone. In those games, Mbewa (pronounced Bay-wah), has recorded 24.5 tackles including 20 solo stops.

Mbewa opened his two-game terror against Eastern Washington. Against the Eagles, he recorded 14.5 tackles, including 12 solo stops, and had an interception. While his total was impressive, it was the ferocity of his hits that stood out. On more than one occasion, Mbewa leveled EWU running back Jesse Chatman including a hit on the 1-yard line in which Chatman was de-cleated.

Mbewa also left his mark on special teams against EWU. In the second quarter he blocked a punt with one hand, regained his balance, scooped up the ball and cruised 45 yards for a touchdown.

Against UC Davis, Mbewa had eight solo stops and four assists for a total of 10.0

Mbewa is the first Sacramento State player to record back-to-back 10.0-plus tackle games since the NCAA switched to its new system for calculation total tackles. Last season, All-American Anthony Daisley had three games with more than 10.0 tackles but none in succession.

Mbewa’s recent success has lifted him into the team lead for tackles. The Sacramento native now has 52.5 stops despite the fact that he missed the second half of the season opener and the entire Cal Poly game with a knee injury. Freshman Reza Williams is second on the team with 48.5.

• Filling the Seats

The crowd of 17,328 against UC Davis ranks as the second-largest crowd in school history. Earlier this year, the Hornets drew 15,173 in their home opener against Saint Mary’s. That crowd ranks as the fourth largest. This year, the team is averaging 12,686 through five games. That average is ahead of the school record of 11,487 which was set last season. Below is a list of the updated top 10:

Date Opponent Attendance

Sept. 18, 1999 vs. UC Davis - 20,993

Oct. 27, 2001 vs. UC Davis - 17,328

Sept. 9, 2000 vs. Cal Poly - 16,557

Sept. 20, 1997 vs. UC Davis - 15,650

Sept. 1, 2001 vs. Saint Mary’s - 15,173

Oct. 6, 2001 vs. Montana - 13,586

Nov. 13, 1993 vs. UC Davis - 13,137

Sept. 4, 1999 vs. Saint Mary’s - 12,778

Oct. 14, 2000 vs. Montana State - 11,958

Sept. 16, 2000 vs. Portland State - 11,853

• Old-Fashioned Shootout

It is probably safe to assume that the scoreboard operator at this week’s game will have an easier time than last year. In the team’s last meeting, an NCAA Div. I-AA record 125 points and 18 touchdowns were scored before Sacramento State held on for a 64-61 win at Hornet Stadium.

The two teams traded touchdowns through two quarters until Ricky Ray scored from a yard out to give Sacramento State a 36-26 lead early in the second half. The Hornets stretched the lead to 57-40 at the start of the fourth quarter but watched CSN rally for 21 points in the final period.

• D-pleted

For one of the few times this season, the Sacramento State offense was effected by injuries more than the defense. The week started right, with the return of QB/WR Garrett White from a broken ankle. During the game, however, injuries to Terence Wagner and Kendall Riley quickly changed the mood. Both players suffered knee injuries on the same play at the start of the fourth quarter and are day-to-day.

Throughout the season it has been the defense that has been hit hardest by the injury bug. All-American Bilal Watkins was lost for the year with a knee injury against Cal Poly and starting cornerback Elton Gabourel has missed four games with a shoulder injury.

Other notables who have missed time this season due to injury include: Camron Mbewa (knee, one game), Lee Turner (shoulder, three games), Drew Bogetti (hand, one game), White (thumb and ankle, four games), Kenan Smith (knee, three games) and Antone Bogetti (shoulder, one game).

A Look at the Matadors

• Cal State Northridge is struggling through its first year outside of the Big Sky. The Matadors are currently 1-6 but have played well over the past few weeks. The team opened the year 0-3 before defeating Western Oregon. It has followed with a 38-31 loss at UC Davis, as well as losses to Div. I Troy State and to EWU.

• Last week, the Matadors were able to match the Eagles score-for-score for the first three quarters of the game. The team, however, was not able to slow Jesse Chatman in the fourth quarter. Chatman totalled 277 yards and six TDs in the game.

• There is no secret that Marcus Brady is the key to the CSN team. Brady, who is a finalist for the Walter Payton award, is averaging 321.3 passing yards per game. He has thrown 23 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions. Brady has also rushed for a pair of scores.

• Brady’s favorite target is Drew Amerson. The receiver is averaging 113.5 ypg. Around the goal line, however, DJ Hackett has had success. Hackett has seven scores this season.

• Defensively, Lewis Blanton leads the Matador defense. Blanton has 66.0 tackles including 48 solo stops. Martin Bacon controls the team’s secondary where he has four interceptions.

• None of the players on the Northridge roster hail from Sacramento. However, defensive back Sean Atkins played his freshman season as a running back/kick returner for the Hornets.

The Series

• Through 28 meetings, the series is tied 14-14.

Who’s Up Next

• Sacramento State will play its final home game of the 2001 season on Nov. 10 against Northern Arizona. Prior to the start, the team will honor its 15 seniors.

Big Sky Notes

• EWU running back Jesse Chatman was named the Big Sky Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week for the second-straight time. Chatman rushed for 277 yards and five TDs against Cal State Northridge. He also caught a touchdown and scored on a conversion for a total of 38 points.

Weber State’s Matt McFadden took home the defensive award. McFadden recorded 15 solo tackles, two forced fumbles, one pass deflection and a sack in the team’s win over Idaho State.

The Special Teams Award was given to Kyler Randall of Eastern Washington. Randall returned a punt 81 yards for a score to give EWU the lead.

• EWU’s Chatman was also named national player of the week for the second time in as many weeks.