The Kennesaw State Owls won their first game of the season Saturday night with a 49-3 victory against Point University.
As far as their non-conference schedule, the Owls proved equally capable on offense and defensively stronger than last season when they defeated the Skyhawks 56-14.
1. Chandler Burks started
The backup quarterback led the Owls’ to 555 total yards, completing 9 of 13 for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Burks was also a threat rushing, gaining 138 yards on nine carries including a 51-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
KSU coach Brian Bohannon wasn’t surprised in Burks’ performance on Saturday because of how he practices every day.
“He’s very efficient in what he does,” Bohannon said. “I thought he did a good job early of getting the ball distributed, especially throwing the ball. We got some guys who can make a difference out there.”
It was Burks’ first start, in the place of quarterback Trey White who suffered a hip injury in last week’s 20-17 loss to East Tennessee State. Burks had completed 6 of 9 for 90 yards and one touchdown in a reserve role against ETSU.
Redshirt freshman and quarterback Daniel David replaced Burks in the third quarter and was 3-for-4 for 61 yards and one touchdown.
2. The passing game came alive
With Burks, the Owls totaled 143 passing yards. Against Point last season, the Owls threw for 308 yards — a 2015 season high.
Wide receiver Justin Sumpter was the team leader, collecting five catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns. Sumpter scored off a 3-yard pass and a 4-yard pass for the Owls’ first two touchdowns.
Burks knows he can trust Sumpter’s athleticism down the field proven by Sumper being a main target on Saturday.
“Even two-on-one on Sumpter, I’m still going to take my shot (at Sumpter),” Burks said.
Burks’ longest touchdown pass was in the third quarter, 31 yards to wide receiver Chaston Bennett.
3. Owls must clean up penalties
The Owls drew six penalties for 75 yards. Less careful in the first half, the Owls had three penalties for 55 yards.
In their season opener against ETSU, the Owls had 11 penalties for 93 yards.
The Skyhawks totaled 10 penalties for 65 yards.
4. Defense makes a stand
The Owl’s defense held the Skyhawks to 236 total yards, allowing 142 passing yards and 94 rushing yards.
In the first half, the Owls’ starters allowed 2.3 yards per carry for 50 yards and 33 passing yards. The Skyhawks entered the red zone once in the first half when they kicked a 29-yard field goal at the end of the half.
Linebacker Izzy Sam led the Owls with six tackles and one tackle for loss.
Allowing no touchdowns against the Skyhawks, Sam was proud, but still expects better from his team.
“It was good for us because last week we played well, but it wasn’t up to our standards and we felt like we had to come out and be sharks in the water and just do work,” Sam said.
5. Owls’ run game dominated
Scoring four rushing touchdowns, the Owls remain a run-first offense. In the first half, the Owls had 201 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
While Burks was the team’s leading rusher, senior running back Micah Reed and redshirt sophomore back Jonah Huff also made big plays. Reed rushed for 77 yards and Huff 55.
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