The Sacramento State Hornets aren’t using the series of injuries that have crippled their football season as an excuse for a lost season because it’s part of a clash-heavy game.

Taking on the No. 2 ranked team in the FCS on Saturday afternoon, the red-hot host, who boasted star power and a healthy roster, ruled the day in the Gallatin Valley. Montana State ran the entire state of Sacramento, rushing for a record 508 yards in the home stretch and a record seven rushing touchdowns for a 49-7 win in Bozeman to remain undefeated in Big Sky Conference play at 6-0 .

The Bobcats rushed 51 times, racked up 607 yards of total offense and moved to 10-0 for the first time since the program began playing the sport in 1897, as they defeated the Hornets for the 12th time in the last 14 meetings. Montana State is seeking its 18th Big Sky championship and first FCS national championship since the magical 1984 season.

Sacramento State defeated Montana State in Bozeman in 2019 en route to the Hornets’ first of three straight Big Sky crowns, but the Bobcats haven’t lost a game at home since. Since the last showdown with the Hornets, Bobcat Stadium has gone 30-1. Montana State moved to 28-2 in the Big Sky since 2021, including 42-30 efforts at Hornet Stadium last season, when Montana State finished second in the FCS and Sacramento State third.

The Hornets returned just three starters from the 2023 showdown against Montana State on Saturday, reflecting a roster depleted by injuries, including a deficit of four projected preseason offensive linemen and a total of eight defensive lineman.

Hornets coach Andy Thompson has played in the Big Sky, for the Montana Grizzlies, and spent a coaching career there, so he’s a pretty good judge of talent. When Sacramento State sports information director Brian Berger asked after the game if this was one of the best teams he’s seen in the Big Sky, the coach said, “They’re very high up there, a very good team, very good balanced. really physical. They had an answer to everything we did.”

Montana State broke the Bobcat Stadium record of 483 yards in 1973 against Fresno State. The school record for rushing in a game is 554 against Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo in 2022.

Montana State led 28-0 at halftime. Curron Borders provided Sacramento State with its only points, with the Antelope High School graduate breaking away for a 43-yard touchdown sprint with 8:39 to play in the third quarter. He did this against Montana’s state reserves.

Borders led the Hornets in rushing with 57 yards. Carson Conklin passed for 138 yards for Sacramento State, which visits Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo next week and ends its season at home Nov. 23 in the 70th Causeway Classic against No. 4 UC Davis.

Scottre Humphrey rushed 12 times for 129 yards and a score for Montana State, which visits UC Davis next week in the FCS Game of the Week. Adam Jones carried five times for 159 yards and 78 yards for the Bobcats, Julius Davis rushed 15 times for 76 yards and a score, and fourth-year starting quarterback Tommy Mellott ran four times for 40 yards and two scores for the top-rated offense in the Big Sky.

“We have to get better,” Thompson said. “Have to continue. We have to get ready for Cal Poly and play a better football game.”