With a 49-16 victory against Missouri S&T on Saturday at Fifth-Third Bank Stadium, Kennesaw State has its fourth consecutive triumph, the longest win streak in program history.
1. The run game dominated
With quarterback Chandler Burks as the team’s leading rusher, the Owls gained 369 rushing yards and five touchdowns against the Miners. The Owls averaged 282 rushing yards per game entering Saturday’s game, ranking 12th nationally. Burks finished Saturday with 118 rushing yards and three of the Owls’ rushing touchdowns.
Kennesaw (4-1) had 252 of its rushing yards and scored three rushing touchdowns against the Miners in the first half.
The Owls finished with 471 total yards, just under their season per game average of 482.2 yards — first in the Big South.
2. Owls didn’t connect in passing game
Burks completed 2 of 6 for 73 yards and one touchdown on Saturday, throwing only one complete pass in the first half on first play of the game to wide receiver Chaston Bennett for 21 yards. Burks’ four other passing attempts were on target, but his receivers dropped the ball.
“The wind was a little bit of an issue at times when you’re trying to throw the ball,” coach Brian Bohannon said. “We’re working around that a little bit and we tried to throw it some, but we felt like we could run the ball so we just kind of continued to do that and we found a way to come out in the second half to hit a big pass play which we’ve been able to do here.”
Burks’ longest completion of the day was a 52-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Xavier Harper on the Owls’ first drive of the second half. Harper finished with two receptions for 81 yards.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel David entered the game in the fourth quarter and completed his only attempt for 29 yards. The Owls threw to two receivers to total 102 receiving yards. Top receiver Justin Sumpter was out with an injury.
3. Owls scored off turnovers
The Owls’ first points off turnovers on Saturday were from cornerback Dante Blackmon, whose fifth interception this season set up KSU near midfield at the 46. The Owls scored 10 plays later with an 8-yard touchdown run by running back Bennett. Entering Saturday’s game, Blackmon was tied at first in the FCS for interceptions.
“This is my first time going through a stretch like this,” Blackmon said. “I made an interception in high school but nothing like this that’s going on this right now. It feels pretty good.”
A 19-yard fumble return by linebacker Dez Billingslea late in the fourth quarter resulted in points for the Owls.
The Owls sit at plus-six in the turnover margin this season after Burks lost a fumble in the second quarter on the Missouri S&T 35 that was returned for a touchdown by Miners linebacker Isaiah Hardy. Hardy’s touchdown narrowed Kennesaw’s lead 21-13 with 11:38 until halftime.
4. Owls struggled on third down
After going 6 of 13 on third-down against Furman, the Owls finished Saturday’s game with 6 of 14 on third-down.
The Owls finished the first half going 6of 8 on third downs, five of those being third-and-short situations, and went 0-for-6 in the second half. So far this season, the Owls are converting less than half of their third-down opportunities (31-for-67).
“The third-down stuff I think was just more manageable situations where we were able to convert,” Bohannon said. “We really didn’t throw it a bunch today, it wasn’t like we’ve been (throwing) in the past.”
5. An Owls’ run defense streak broken
After holding three consecutive opponents to less than 100 rushing yards, the Owls held the Miners to 109 rushing yards. The Owls held Furman to 69 rushing yards last week.
“We saw a little bit today where the defensive line did their job, but the defensive backs didn’t, and the defensive backs did their job, but the front seven didn’t,” safety Taylor Henkle said. “If we can get that collectively going in the right direction, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
The Owls held Missouri S&T sophomore running back Charles Bournes to 54 yards.
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