In an age when some of the more successful head football coaches seem miserable, no one is enjoying their job more right now than Kennesaw State’s Brian Bohannon.
“I’ve never had more fun in my life,” Bohannon said.
Of course it helps the mood when your team dominates every aspect of its final home game in a 45-10 beatdown of Big South Conference-rival Presbyterian on Saturday afternoon.
“You don’t understand. I’d come do this for free with this group of individuals — these kids and this staff,” Bohannon said.
Bohannon’s Owls improved to 8-2 overall, 3-1 in the Big South, and could have a chance to claim a share of the league title after the offense rolled up 567 yards of offense. KSU hammered out 343 rushing yards, and when the Presbyterian defense began to creep in, four of the Owls’ seven pass completions went for touchdowns.
The defense was equally impressive, holding the Blue Hose to 187 yards of offense. Presbyterian’s only touchdown came in the third quarter following a KSU fumble on its own 9-yard line. Even then, Presbyterian needed four plays and a K-State personal-foul penalty to go nine yards and pull within 31-10.
Here are five other observations from the game:
KEY DRIVE
Kennesaw State scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, both from senior running back Chaston Bennett. Still, the Owls led only 17-3 with 49 seconds left in the first half. But instead of taking the foot off the gas and taking a lead into the locker room, KSU went full throttle. On third-and-8, Burks found wide receiver Xavier Harper inexplicably alone behind the safety for a 63-yard completion. Two plays later, Burks tossed a 2-yard strike in the corner of the end zone to Justin Sumpter.
“We are going to be in attack mode every opportunity we can,” Bohannon said. “Our kids play that way. They enjoy it. I enjoy it.”
The touchdown gave the Owls a 24-3 lead at intermission and foiled any opportunity for the Blue Hose to grab the momentum.
“You can take the wind out of people’s sails when you do that stuff with 49 seconds to go right before half,” Bohannon said.
THE PRODUCERS
If there was a blemish on Saturday’s game for KSU it was two third-quarter fumbles and the swollen ankle of Bennett, who recently has emerged as one of college football’s most productive players. Over the past six games Bennett has produced 1,190 all-purpose yards, 13 touchdowns and six consecutive multi-TD games.
Bennett injured the ankle in the first half, made an effort to play in the third quarter, before being put on the shelf with hopes of returning to play in next Saturday’s season finale.
“I told the trainers, you guys can go ahead and get a bed in his room and do whatever you’ve got to do to get him well,” Bohannon said.
Burks, meanwhile, has emerged as the ideal quarterback in Bohannon’s spread-option offense. He rushed 20 times for 119 yards, and completed 6 of 10 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns.
“He’s running the show right now,” Bohannon said.
SECOND-YEAR SUCCESS
Kennesaw State’s second football season is in no sophomore slump. Saturday’s win, coupled with a Charleston Southern victory over Liberty, means the Owls will share the Big South title if they can win at Charleston Southern next week.
Even with a win next week, Liberty holds the tie-breaker with the Owls and would receive the league’s automatic bid to the FCS 24-team national playoffs. However, Kennesaw State is in the conversation for an at-large berth, and that has the head coach beaming.
“We’ve only played, what, 21 games (over two seasons)?” Bohannon asked. “And we’re having conversations about stuff you didn’t think you’d have a conversation about. I’m proud of our football team.”
SENIORS MOMENT
Saturday marked the final home game for 12 Owls seniors, who took a variety of paths to Kennesaw State. Senior nose tackle Nick Perrotta, for example, enrolled at KSU long before there was a football schedule.
“When I first came here I just wanted to try to make the team,” Perrotta said. “And to still be here and to do what we’ve done this year and last year is incredible.”
Only five seniors started Saturday, but three of KSU’s six touchdowns were by seniors, including former starting QB Trey White’s 4-yard touchdown run with 10:06 remaining to give the Owls a 38-10 lead.
“I think what they’ve done here… is stuff they are going to tell their kids and grandkids about one day,” Bohannon said. “I think you’re seeing history in the making right now, to be honest with you, and I think those seniors have a lot to do with it.”
ON DECK
Kennesaw State closes out the regular season Saturday at defending Big South-champion Charleston Southern. The Owls are a perfect 4-0 on the road, one of four FCS teams nationally that hasn’t lost a road game, and KSU is averaging 46 points per game away from Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
If a share of the conference crown wasn’t incentive enough, Charleston Southern defeated the Owls 28-14 last season, then celebrated winning the conference title on the field at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
“I think our guys will remember that,” Bohannon said.
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