Sacramento State may well be one of the dark horse teams in DIAA.

After starting the 2016 season with a somewhat shaky win over UCSB very shaky loss to UC Davis, the Hornets lost again a week later, this time to Stanford. But since then, Sac State has won six in a row, including this past Saturday’s 50-19 defeat of previously 5-1 Nevada-Reno.

Sac State looked very strong in that victory, scoring frequently and spreading the wealth around - flyhallf Nick Weeder, wings Koa Gabriel and Phil Maechling, lock Taylor Wilson, hooker Saul Raygoza, flanker Fehoko Footusia, and scrumhalf Aaron Vaughn all touched down. Only prop Wayne Capers had a big points haul - he scored twice and kicked five conversions for 20 points. Instead, it was an all-encompassing performance.

 “I think Reno had a hard time keeping up with our run-and-gun offense,” said Sac State Coach Adam Macrae. 

With Noah Evaristo and Zach Schreeder leading the defensive effort, the Hornets are a team that Pacific West leaders UC Davis will have to look twice at if they see them again.

“It has taken a lot of long hours to come up with a system that is right for the types of players that come together to play at Sac State,” Macrae told Goff Rugby Report, who added that most of his team picks up the game after high school. “This is my fourth year, and the first time I have guys in college who have only played for me. It is a shame that I have not been able to recruit more experienced players, considering Sacramento is a hotbed for some of the best high school rugby players in the country.”

That is, in part, because Sacramento State University won’t help recruit and attract rugby players, despite the fact that men’s rugby is the second-largest team sport on campus, behind football.

“Our team has brought the university it's only national championship, and truly reflects the diversity of our student population,” noted Macrae. “There are two reasons why we've been so successful the last six games. The first is our team values: show up, work hard, master your craft, be a good teammate, and be a good person. I don't care how talented an athlete a guy may or may not be, but if he doesn't act within our team values, he will never step on the field as a Hornet. Secondly, we play a style that I haven't seen or heard of anyone else doing. Our approach to the game, and how it is played, is very different from other set piece formations, offensive and defensive patterns, kicking, tackling, rucking etc. No one is doing what we are doing.”  

Away from the tactics, there’s a unit that Macrae is seeing.

“My guys work well together because they do everything together from morning runs and pools sessions with volunteer trainer Tia Kilpatrick, to barbecues and Madden tournaments. We have become a family over the last couple of seasons: through lost loved ones, issues with money, failing classes, or trouble with their partners. I try to be there for my guys, and they have been there for me.”

With the big victory over Nevada, Sac State has finished the team’s regular season, and has done enough to clinch the #2 seed going into the tournament playoffs. Next up is the Pacific Western playoffs, and even if they don’t unseat Davis, it’s possible Sac State has done enough to be considered for an at-large spot in the national playoffs. Back in January that didn’t seem likely. Now, it’s hard to ignore.