The victory improved the Vikings, ranked 12th in I-AA, to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Sky Conference. The Hornets dropped to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in league games.

Sacramento State led, 13-10, at halftime but saw its lead disappear early in the second half. Portland State’s Nick Swanegan returned the second-half kickoff 84 yards to the Sacramento State 10-yard line setting up a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Levin from Juston Wood.

Hornet quarterback Ryan Leadingham was intercepted on the Sacramento State’s next possession which allowed PSU to drive 32 yards on six plays which was capped by Wood’s 5-yard TD run.

The Vikings extended their lead to 27-13 with 12:31 left in the game when Mike Cajal-Willis hit a 21-yard field goal. On the drive, Portland State used 19 plays and covered 76 yards in 8:26. The team’s final score of the game came with 7:22 on the clock on a 53-yard run from Ryan Fuqua.

Sacramento State attempted to answer late in the game with a 9-yard strike for a touchdown from Leadingham to Fred Amey.

The Hornets scored the game’s first points on a 38-yard field goal from Bret LeVier with just 30 seconds left in the first quarter. PSU matched the score with a 25-yard field goal from Cajal-Willis early in the second quarter.

After PSU forced Sacramento State to punt, the Vikings drove to midfield. Wood was sacked by Brad Osterhout and fumbled on the play. The ball was picked up by Camron Mbewa who returned it 61 yards for a touchdown to give the team a 10-3 advantage.

The Vikings responded with a 15-yard scoring pass from Wood to Fuqua to tie the game but LeVier connected on a 23-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the half to give the Hornets a halftime lead.

Despite finishing with 141 yards, Sacramento State was able to hold Fuqua in check for most of the day. The leading rusher in the Big Sky Conference, Fuqua was limited to 88 yards on 30 carries before breaking his 53-yard run.

The Sacramento State ground game amassed 218 yards led by Leadingham (80 yards). Freshman Tyronne Gross added 68 yards while Derard Barton contributed 38.

Leadingham finished the day 23-for-32 for 185 yards and one touchdown. The sophomore, however, threw a pair of interceptions.

Sacramento State will next travel to Cheney, Wash., to take on Eastern Washington on Oct. 26. The game will kick off at 2:05 p.m. and can be heard on KTKZ 1380 AM.