Kennesaw State prevails in game called early because of lightning

Special by Cory Hancock

Credit: Cory Hancock

Credit: Cory Hancock

Special by Cory Hancock

Kennesaw State’s Isaac Foster ran for 183 yards last week, and nobody really noticed because teammate Bronson Rechsteiner set a school rushing record with 221 yards.

This week they paid attention.

The speedy sophomore from Summerville was productive again Saturday in Kennesaw State’s 31-7 weather-shortened win over Reinhardt at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

The game was halted by a weather delay with 5:45 remaining in the third quarter when lightning was spotted in the area. It was called after a 49-minute delay.

Foster rushed six times for 127 yards and caught two passes for 30 yards to lead the No. 6-ranked Owls. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound slotback scored on runs of 44 and 3 yards. Foster now has 436 yards rushing and 88 yards receiving.

Rechsteiner didn’t have the big yardage this week - he rushed five times for 9 yards - but the senior threw the final block that allowed Foster to finish his 44-yard touchdown run.

The Owls (4-1) scored touchdowns on their first four possessions and led 31-0 before Reinhardt scrambled for a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the half.

Kennesaw scored twice in the first quarter on a 9-yard run by Kevin Ficklin and a 1-yard run by quarterback Daniel David, a drive that took 11 plays, covered 73 yards and took 6:43.

After Foster punched it in twice, the Owls added a 40-yard field goal by Nathan Robertson.

Kennesaw State entered the game leading all Division I teams with 411.3 yards rushing per game. The Owls finished with 264 total yards Saturday, 204 of that coming on the ground in 2-1/2 quarters.

Reinhardt, which competes on the NAIA level, dropped to 3-2. The Eagles, playing without three offensive linemen who usually contribute, were limited to 99 total yards.

Quarterback Billy Hall helped Reinhardt hustle down the field for the team’s only score late in the half. Hall covered the final 21 yards on a touchdown run that was confirmed by video review.

The Kennesaw State defense disrupted Reinhardt’s option attack, which had been averaging 279 yards rushing. Lineman Kareem Taylor had three tackles for loss, a sack and forced a fumble.

Kennesaw State lost senior defensive end Andrew Butcher on the first possession with an upper body injury, and he walked the sidelines the rest of the game with his right arm in a sling. Butcher missed the past two games with a lower body injury.

It was the first meeting between the two schools, which are separated by 24.4 miles.