Sacramento State Secures Top Spot in California DIAA
Sacramento State Secures Top Spot in California DIAA
In a game of significant import in the California DIAA Conference, Sacramento State defeated Fresno State 42-34 Saturday.
With the victory, Sac State ends the regular season 5-0 and in 1st place in the conference. While the California has playoffs, the #1 seed carries some importance because Sac State will host an up-and-coming but young San Jose State, while Fresno State will have to face off with a very physical Chico State team.
Kellan Fisch was on-point with his conversion kicking on the day, going a perfect 6-for-6, and that was the difference as both sides scored six tries. Fresno, led by another superb performance from flyhalf Isaiah Kruse, was dynamic and skilled, and Kruse showed why he's on the USA 7s team radar. But as the Bulldogs matched the Hornets try for try, they didn't with the conversions.
Gavin Smith scored the opening try for Sac State, and while Fresno answered with two tries, another Hornet try, this time from Cristofer Gamez and converted by Fisch, made it 14-12 Sac State. Fresno nudged ahead again but Trevion Darden's try, with the conversion, made it 21-17.
And so the game went. Fresno scored but were outside and the kicks were tougher. Amir Frazier scored twice, once right after the halftime break and once midway trough the second half, and that made it 35-27. With a two-score cushion Sac State was able to survive. Fresno scored again to make it 35-34, but Miles Brown (and Fisch) iced it.
It was an impressive team showing, said Head Coach Steve Seifert, and an indication of the work the Hornets have put in. However, they were still hit for six tries, and will want to defend a little better. The Kruse-led Bulldog attack will keep coming, and could well keep coming in the conference final.
