Who:

# 8 Sacramento State Hornets (1-0)

Versus

Texas A&M-Commerce Lions (0-1)

When: Saturday, September 8, 9 PM CST, 7 PM Pacific Time

Where: Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, CA

Weather: 80 Degrees at Kickoff

Precipitation: 0%

Humidity: 36%

Wind: 7 mph

Watch/Listen/Stats-

Radio-88.9 KETR (Commerce) Via the Lion Sports Network-Charlie Chitwood (Play By Play) Brock Callaway (Color/Analysis) or KETR.org

LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+ | https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/eventCalendarId/401540286
LIVE STATS: https://statb.us/v/tame/472711  
GAME NOTES: TAMUC | SAC

Impact Players-

WR Keith Miller-The Lion’s feature wideout needs to have a big time game and use his speed and playmaking ability to open up the field for the Lion offense.

QB Peter Parrish-After a rough game last week, if he gets the start and learns from last week’s rough lessons, I believe he can be a contributor if runs the offense and makes the routine play.

QB Josh Mangana-If he is called upon, he has to be ready to go.

The Entire Offensive Line-They need to block and eliminate penalties that hurt the offense. It’s that simple.

DB Daryion Taylor-The Hard Hitting DB needs to keep bringing the lumber in the defensive backfield and making plays.

DB Max Epps-He continues to make huge plays when called upon, and facing an offense as good as Sac State’s will require him and the entire defensive backfield to rise to the occasion.

DL Levi Drake Rodriguez-The defensive line MUST get pressure on The Hornet offense and disrupt their timing. Rodriguez leads that unit in tackles and needs to be a presence.

Storylines: Last week’s loss still has that lingering taste of embarrassment no doubt, and that is a good thing. After looking at the film of Sac State’s matchup against Nicholls last week, I don’t see anything that makes me think we just cannot beat these guys. I believe we match up better with Sac State than we did against UC-Davis, especially on defense. However, if we play the same undisciplined football that we did last week, it won’t matter.

On offense, our offensive line MUST take advantage of the size advantage they have on the Hornet D-Line and front 6 by running the football effectively. If Parrish is the man under center, he MUST take care of the ball and not throw the guys in the other jerseys. The Line must reduce any drive killing penalties in addition to using their above mentioned size. If the skill guys have a good day, we are in this game.

Russ tells a story of his first season on the Lion football team in 1979. The Blue Gang was embarrassed 45-14 by Texas State and after a hard gut check that week from Boley Crawford and Bobby Fox. The Blue Gang responded with one of the best defensive performances in school history, shutting out eventual national champion and # 1 ranked Texas A&I, 3-0. This unit needs to remember what they play. Sac State has two QB’s in their system, one is the runner, and one is the passer. You will know what package is coming based on the QB is by in large. Again, I feel like we match up better on defense against the Hornets based on their sideline to sideline attack and also their tenacity for deep shots down the field. How the defense responds must be huge.

Special teams…..Just keep doing your job.

Remember to all players and coaches…..

“Play 60 minutes, you might have a second to spare.”

“Fortune favors the bold.”