Bennett, Fulcher pace Sacramento State in 38-24 win over Nicholls
THIBODAUX, La -- — Kaiden Bennett threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns and Sacramento State controlled Nicholls from the outset and beat the Colonels 38-24 in a season opener Thursday night in the coaching debut for Andy Thompson.
Marcus Fulcher added two rushing touchdowns for the Hornets' first two scores which created a 14-0 cushion for the eighth-ranked team in the FCS Coaches Poll.
The Colonels drew within 17-10 midway through the third quarter after inheriting a short field off an interception and Pat McQuaide ran it in from the 4. But Sacramento State scored the next three touchdowns, the first coming with 1:05 left in the third when Bennett threw a 40-yard score to Jared Gipson for a 14-point advantage.
Early in the fourth, Bennett ran it in from the 7 to end a brief five-play, 63-yard drive in a little more than two minutes, and following a turnover on downs by Nicholls, Bennett threw a six-yard score to Anderson Grover on the one-play drive for a 38-10 lead.
McQuaid threw for 196 yards including an 84-yard score to Terry Matthews for the game's last score.
It was Nicholls first home loss in a season opener since 1992.
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
Game Information
2024 Big Sky Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Montana State | 7-0 | 11-0 |
UC Davis | 6-1 | 9-2 |
Idaho | 5-2 | 8-3 |
Montana | 5-2 | 8-3 |
Northern Arizona | 5-2 | 7-4 |
Eastern Washington | 3-4 | 4-7 |
Idaho State | 3-4 | 5-6 |
Weber State | 2-5 | 3-8 |
Cal Poly | 2-5 | 3-7 |
Portland State | 2-5 | 2-8 |
Sacramento State | 1-6 | 3-8 |
Northern Colorado | 1-6 | 1-10 |
2024 Southland Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Incarnate Word | 6-0 | 9-2 |
SE Louisiana | 6-1 | 7-5 |
Stephen F. Austin | 4-3 | 6-5 |
Lamar | 3-3 | 6-5 |
McNeese | 3-3 | 6-5 |
East Texas A&M | 2-3 | 3-8 |
Houston Christian | 2-4 | 4-7 |
Nicholls | 2-5 | 4-8 |
Northwestern State | 0-6 | 0-11 |