Rushing barrage silences Bengals

Running back Charles Roberts had rushed for a season-low 74 yards against Eastern Washington one week ago.

On Saturday, he dashed for 409.

Roberts broke record after record, leading Sac State to a homecoming victory over Idaho State University in front of a crowd of 7,432.

The 5-6, 175 pound junior had shimmied his way past the Big Sky single-game rushing record before bolting 59 yards down field, breaking the Division I-AA, Division I-A and Division II records in a single carry, diving into the end zone for the fifth time in the game.

Roberts finished the contest with 39 carries for 409 yards and a Hornet record five rushing touchdowns.

Only a Division III record of 441 yards remains.

Roberts spoke of his surprise after the game.

"I didn't think I could do it," Roberts said. "I didn't think I had the endurance."

The Hornets broke away in the third quarter after a halftime tie of 10-10, outscoring the Bengals 21-10 in the second half. Sac State did not turn the ball over in the game as quarterback Ricky Ray completed eight passes in 16 attempts for 112 yards.

Place kicker Scott Brown joined Roberts in the record books, becoming the Sac State single season points leader for a kicker with 76. He surpassed Jim Crouch's 1991 record of 75.

Hornet head coach John Volek expressed his admiration for his team in an emotional post-game interview.

"This week Chris Kelly came in here and wrote an offensive line goal of 400 rushing yards on the board," he said. "Charles had great support from other running backs; he is healthy again and looked pretty damn good,"

Volek choked up when talking of his graduating seniors.

"I have 12 more games with Charles but I am losing a lot of these guys," he said. "They were a part of history."