ESPN College Football

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Running back Bryan Hilliard rushed for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns in Sacramento State's 41-31 victory over Portland State on Saturday.

Jason Smith threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns and scored on a 1-yard run for the Hornets (3-2, 1-1 Big Sky), who had previously dropped the last eight games to the Vikings. Tony Washington caught nine passes for 158 yards and one touchdown for the Hornets.

Tygue Howland threw for 394 yards and three touchdowns, and Aaron Woods had four catches for 106 yards and one score for the Vikings (2-2, 0-1 Big Sky), who are 0-3 on the road this season.

Trailing 14-0 in the first quarter, the Hornets came back to score 20 unanswered points. The scoring was capped off by a 15-yard interception return for a TD by freshman defensive back Deionte Gordon in the second quarter.

The Vikings ended the first half leading 21-20 after Woods caught an 80-yard touchdown from Howland with 1:10 left in the second quarter.

Sacramento State regained the lead by scoring 14 straight points in the third quarter.

The Vikings cut the Hornets' lead 34-31 on a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but Sac State controlled the ball on the ground, and scored on 2-yard run by Hilliard to extend its margin.