Kennesaw State closes regular season with a win for the ages

At halftime, Kennesaw State found out it would be playing for the Conference USA championship next week. But that wasn’t enough for the Owls.

Thanks to five touchdowns from Amari Odom (4 passing, 1 rushing), the Owls rallied in the fourth quarter and defeated Liberty, 48-42, in double overtime Saturday in the regular season finale.

Amari Odom threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Christian Moss on the first play of a second overtime and Kennesaw State’s defense did the rest to secure the victory in a game that featured four lead changes and six ties.

The Owls (9-3, 7-1 CUSA) will take on Jacksonville State next week in the Conference USA championship game. Jacksonville State defeated Western Kentucky earlier in the day Saturday to earn its spot in the conference title game.

After the Owls took the 48-42 lead in the second OT, Baron Hopson tackled Evan Dickens for a 1-yard loss on first down. Tywon Christopher held Dickens to a yard on his second carry and then teamed up with Elijah Hill for a sack. Michael Merdinger threw incomplete to end it.

Odom completed 14 of 23 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns. He had a 12-yard touchdown pass to Gabriel Benyard in the first quarter and a 25-yarder on first down in the first OT. It was Benyard’s school-record ninth touchdown catch this season.

Odom added a 9-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter and finished with 72 yards on 13 carries. Coleman Bennett rushed 14 times for 92 yards and a score. Bennett also had a touchdown catch.