Kaiden Bennett dazzles in first college start as No. 8 Sac State routs Texas A&M-Commerce

Joe Davidson
·4 min read

Kaiden Bennett is taking 12 units this semester in his pursuit of a second degree at Sacramento State, and he’s loaded up on an additional package of football 101 quarterback study.

Known as “KB”, Bennett is now the Hornets’ starter at the most critical position on the field, the trigger man, and the Folsom High School graduate takes his role so personally that he pours himself into his craft. On Thursday, as he prepared to make the first start of his college career, Bennett spent nearly 12 hours on campus, a student in his studies and then the team leader in his element with position meetings, on-field practice and hours of film breakdown.

“I always want to be sure that I’m prepared,” Bennett said. “I always want to feel like I’m ready.”

The fourth-year junior is passing with flying colors. Starting for the first time Saturday night in front of 12,316 spectators at Hornet Stadium, Bennett passed for 176 yards and a touchdown while leading all rushers with 101 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries in a 34-6 rout of Texas A&M-Commerce.

Sacramento State students celebrate the field goal to end the first half of the NCAA football game at Hornet Stadium on Saturday.
Sacramento State students celebrate the field goal to end the first half of the NCAA football game at Hornet Stadium on Saturday.

Ranked No. 8 in the NCAA FCS, Sacramento State (2-0) extended its regular-season winning streak to 21 as the Lions suffered their second setback to a Big Sky Conference program in as many weeks. UC Davis beat Texas A&M-Commerce 48-10 in a season opener.

Bennett opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run, made it 17-0 early in the second quarter with a 16-yard strike to Chris Miller and then took off for a dazzling 40-yard scoring sprint to make it 24-0. His versatile game was on full display.

Sacramento State Hornets quarterback Kaiden Bennett (1) stumbles into the end zone for the touchdown during the first half of the NCAA football game at Hornet Stadium on Saturday.
Sacramento State Hornets quarterback Kaiden Bennett (1) stumbles into the end zone for the touchdown during the first half of the NCAA football game at Hornet Stadium on Saturday.

Marcus Fulcher had a 5-yard touchdown to make it 34-6, Zach Schreiner had field goals of 33 and 40 yards, and the defense was led by two additional Folsom High products as Gavin Smith-Davis and Cameron Broussard combined for 13 tackles.

Brock Mather had six tackles and two interceptions, one of them on a 2-point conversion attempt, as the Hornets delivered a complete-game effort. This was also true in the 38-24 victory at Nicholls State in Louisiana when the Hornets led big early behind the arm and legs of Bennett, who accounted for three scores in his first substantial action in his Hornets career.

Saturday marked Bennett’s first start since he led Folsom High to back-to-back CIF state championships in 2018 and 2019.

“I felt good out there and it’s always great to come out with a win,” said Bennett, who credited his offensive line, a unit that had two starters out but never missed a beat. “Guys stepped up. Nothing really changes (with the depth we have).”

All of this pleased first-year coach Andy Thompson, who was beaming afterward.

“I told the guys I thought we were better from Game 1 to Game 2,” Thompson said. “I love the attitude. I love the demeanor. There were moments where guys had to be resilient. Using KB here as an example, he threw an interception, then, boom, he made a great scramble on our next drive and we made a field goal (as time ran out in the half). And Brock, he missed a tackle early and I’m all over him — ‘Get your head up!’ — and then he makes an interception on a 4th-and-5 play.”

Sacramento State Hornets linebacker Brock Mather (10) celebrates with his position coach AJ Cooper after recovering a fumble during the first half of the NCAA football game at Hornet Stadium on Saturday.
Sacramento State Hornets linebacker Brock Mather (10) celebrates with his position coach AJ Cooper after recovering a fumble during the first half of the NCAA football game at Hornet Stadium on Saturday.

Sacramento State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bobby Fresques knows Bennett well, as does Hornets offensive line coach Kris Richardson. They coached Bennett at Folsom High, and the trio is clicking again, including the Hornets’ sturdy and stout offensive line not allowing a sack for the second straight game.

Fresques and Thompson said Bennett and backup quarterback Carson Camp push each other every day in practice, as they did during fall camp. Camp won the job and started the opener. Both encourage each other regularly. Camp played the second part of the third quarter and the entire fourth quarter, passing for 16 yards and rushing for eight.

“KB and Carson are pushing each other because they’re both really good and they’re both talented and competitive,” said Fresques, who quarterbacked the Hornets in the early 1990s. “Man, KB has been light’s out. He’s gotten so much better. He’s become a student of the game. The life of a quarterback is in the film room, watching film, studying, putting in all those hours, and that’s what he’s done.”

Next Saturday the Hornets will visit Stanford, where they will compete against an old friend in Cardinal coach Troy Taylor, who coached the Hornets the past four seasons.

“It’s going to be exciting,” Thompson said.

Sacramento State football head coach Andy Thompson shouts to his team from the sideline during the first half of the NCAA football game at Hornet Stadium on Saturday.
Sacramento State football head coach Andy Thompson shouts to his team from the sideline during the first half of the NCAA football game at Hornet Stadium on Saturday.