Delaware State football head coach DeSean Jackson expressed strong frustration over a controversial penalty call that led to the early ejection of quarterback Kaiden Bennett in a narrow 35-31 loss to Sacred Heart.
“That was crazy,” Jackson said about the penalty on Monday. “In 30 years of playing football, I’ve never seen anything like that.” The call came after Bennett celebrated a rushing touchdown with fans near the end zone.
Officials flagged Bennett twice for unsportsmanlike conduct, once for excessive celebration and once for not promptly returning the ball to the referee, with the second flag triggering his immediate ejection just nine minutes into the game.
Delaware State QB Kaiden Bennett was ejected in the first quarter for excessive celebration after this TD run against Sacred Heart. Game officials also ruled that he didn’t hand the ball to one of the refs following the score.
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Jackson lamented the impact of losing Bennett so early, saying the penalty “changed the complexion of the game.” Delaware State had to turn to backup quarterback Jayden Sauray, who stepped in admirably, completing 12 of 18 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown, including a 75-yard connection that gave the Hornets a late lead.
Still, the team struggled to maintain offensive rhythm as Delaware State was hit with 10 penalties for 125 yards total, which Jackson acknowledged hampered their chances.
“This game came down to discipline,” Jackson said. “We have to learn from these mistakes if we want to go far.”
Despite the disappointing result, Jackson remains focused on building a culture of toughness and accountability at Delaware State.
The team had been riding a three-game winning streak, the longest at the HBCU since 2012, before this loss. Jackson said discipline improvements have been a key priority since he took over as head coach and vowed his team will continue to grow.
“We want to play physical, quick, and aggressive football,” Jackson said. “Mistakes like this don’t define us, but they sure do teach us.”
Delaware State now looks to rebound in upcoming road games as it prepares to enter conference play with renewed focus on discipline and execution. The controversial penalty call remains a stark reminder of how fine the margins are in college football.
“I believe in these guys,” Jackson said. “We’re just getting started.”
