Last Second Touchdown Does In Bears :: Cory Fauver Scores First Career Touchdown

Nov. 10, 2007

Greeley, COLO. - With time expired, Sacramento State won the game on a hail mary pass in the endzone that was tipped in the air and eventually brought down by Tony Washington to give the Hornets the 20-17 victory over Northern Colorado at Nottingham Field. Sacramento State improves to 2-8 overall and 2-5 in Big Sky Conference play, while Northern Colorado falls to 1-10 and 1-6 in league action.

NC took the lead, 17-14 with 44 seconds left on the clock on a 24-yard pass from senior quarterback Dominic Breazeale to junior wide receiver Cory Fauver. The Bears drove 75 yards in 12 plays, eating four minutes off the clock and it was the first career touchdown for Fauver.

The Bears also took the first lead in the game as sophomore kicker Michael York made a 36-yard field goal with 1:12 left in the first quarter for the only points for either team in the first half. With 2:08 remaining in the third quarter, the Hornets got on the scoreboard with a one yard rush by Bryan Hilliard to give them the 7-3 advantage.

Both teams then scored two touchdowns each in the fourth quarter as Breazeale hit senior tight end Clint Wright for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 6:09 remaining. The Hornets answered with 4:50 on the clock, a 39-yard pass from Jason Smith to Dylan Lane for the 14-10 lead and then the final two TDs in the final minute of the game.

Fauver led the Bears with a career-most eight catches for a career-high 78 yards and one touchdown, while junior tight end Ryan Chesla, junior wide receiver Jason Caprioli and senior wide receiver Andy Birkel each had four catches. Breazeale led the team in rushing with a career-high 61 yards and was 28-for-38 (both career highs) for a career best 286 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw one interception and was sacked twice. Fauver also tallied 17 punt return yards and 76 kickoff return yards for 171 yards of total offense.

Sacramento State had a pair of 100-yard rushers for the first time since 1993 as Hilliard tallied 168 and Travon Jones rushed for 130 yards. Smith was 9-for-14 for 117 yards with two touchdowns and Washington caught two passes for 55 yards, including the 44-yard game winner.

The Bears tallied 509 all purpose yards in the game, marking the third time this season they have broken the 500-yard marker. NC was also 13-of-17 on third-down conversions, while the Hornets were 5-of-12.

Northern Colorado closes its season next Saturday against Portland State at 12:05 p.m. at Nottingham Field.