Fresno Sate, Chico State, and Sacramento State all started on a winning note as the Pacific Western DIAA conference got started this week.

Fresno State beat a very young Stanford side 63-17 thanks to five tries and 38 points from flyhalf Isaiah Kruse. The former HS All American was electric as he drove the Fresno State engine. No to be outdone, wing Joshua Jacobsen also scored five tries, meaning those two players accounted for all of the Bulldogs' points.

Discipline is a problem, though, as four Fresno State players received cards, including a red for wing Jaren Phillips. At one point the Bulldogs were down to 12 men.

Chico State beat UC Santa Cruz 57-5. Triston Haverty was really strong at blindside flanker and he scored a try, while lock Brandon Roscoe scored two and led well as the captain.

Anton Holm kicked well and front-rower Justin Dunne came on as a sub and put in some big tackles and key runs.

"It's great to have Justin back on the field for us," said Chico State Head Coach Lucas Bradbury. "Now we look for the next job, which is Fresno, away, which will be a task that the boys will be ready for."

And Sacramento State edged Nevada-Reno 29-26 in Sacramento. Nevada traveled well and played a solid game.

"They are well-coached and Nelo [Lui], Maka [Pateta] and the other coaches have them running very strong," said Sac State Head Coach Steven Seifert. 

UNR scrummed well and put Sac State under pressure. 

"It was a very close match throughout and we were luck to escape with the win," said Seifert. 

Down 16-10 Sac State found themselves a man up after UNR was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on. Wing Amir Frazier raced in to inch his team closer at 16-15. But Nevada replied with a try to make it 21-15. Seifert had intended to rest June Walker, the MVP of the Pac West 7s in the fall, but after that try Walker urged the coach to put him in, and so he did.

Walker was a difference-maker, scoring two tries within ten minutes of stepping onto the field. Fullback Kellan Fisch converted both and the Hornets led 29-21.

With a Sac State player in the sin bin, Nevada went over with time almost up, but Sac State held on.