After a delay of one hour and 43 minutes because of lightning in the area, Kennesaw State rolled over Alabama State 62-13 in the Owls’ home opener at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Saturday night.
Here are five things to know about the win:
1. Kennesaw State’s offense exploded in first half
Veering from the option only to throw a few long passes, the Owls trampled over the Hornets, scoring eight touchdowns.
Quarterback Chandler Burks was 4-for-4 passing for 95 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 71 yards and three touchdowns in the first half before he was replaced by Daniel David to start the second half.
David was 1-for-1 for 41 yards and rushed for 77 yards and one touchdown, including a long of 65 yards in the third quarter. Tommy Bryant and Donovan Taitt also took a few snaps at quarterback late in the game.
“A lot of kids got to play tonight,” coach Brian Bohannon said. “It’s good for them, and it’s good for them to be on tape. ... I think they can definitely learn from it moving forward.”
While Burks put up the biggest numbers of the night, running back Darnell Holland impressed, rushing for 136 yards on three carries and one touchdown. Holland’s best play came late in the second quarter when he ran the ball 70 yards to score the Owls’ sixth touchdown of the first half.
The Owls (2-1) finished Saturday with 563 yards of offense, 417 rushing.
2. Owls defense swallowed Hornets
Whenever the Hornets gained some offensive momentum, the Owls shut it down.
The best example of the pressure the Owls applied all night came late in the second quarter when Alabama State quarterback Darryl Pearson threw a 53-yard pass to put the Hornets on the Owls’ 32-yard line. With a quick pass rush and precise coverage in the secondary, the Owls stonewalled two rush attempts then two pass attempts on third and fourth down.
While Kennesaw State’s starters were playing in the first half, the Hornets entered the red zone twice, but settled for a field goal on both trips. Alabama State entered the end zone for the first time in the third quarter off a 78-yard pass to Tyrek Allen.
The Hornets totaled 314 yards of offense, including 211 passing yards, and were 3-of-16 on third-down plays.
The Owls also forced three turnovers, with two fumbles in the first half and an interception returned 34 yards by linebacker Demetrius Pettway in the third quarter. Kennesaw State scored 21 points of Alabama State turnovers.
3. Owls fumble three times in first half
While the Owls’ offense was able to efficiently move the ball downfield, they lost three of four fumbles committed Saturday.
The Owls’ first fumble of the game occurred when rain picked up for about five minutes into the first quarter. Alabama State returned the fumble 17 yards down the field and later scored on a 19-yard field goal. The Owls committed two more fumbles in the first half, recovering one — committed on a first-quarter kick return by Darnell Holland — and losing the other on a handoff from Burks on the Alabama State 20-yard line.
“I have to execute better,” Burks said of his two lost fumbles. “At the end of the day, two turnovers will lose you a game. We’re just fortunate enough it didn’t tonight.”
“The first quarter wasn’t as sharp as we wanted it to be, but us guys seeing our potential and what this program can be like going into playoffs and finishing this season,” Holland said.
The Owls lost one more fumble in the fourth quarter.
4. Owls scored on their first possession
The first two minutes of Saturday’s game summarized the next 58.
On the second play of the game, Kennesaw State defensive lineman Andrew Butcher recovered a fumble on the Hornets’ 27-yard line which led to the Owls’ first touchdown two plays later.
The drive lasted 1:10 after Burks gave the ball to Shaquil Terry with a 10-yard pass and then a 17-yard touchdown run.
5. Isaac Foster returns kickoff for touchdown
To open the second half, Kennesaw State freshman Isaac Foster zipped down the field 100 yards in 13 seconds for a touchdown, giving the Owls a 49-6 lead.
Foster, who attributed his returns to “great blocks” by his teammates, also returned two punts for 66 yards.
“He looked faster today than I even thought he was,” Bohannon said of Foster. “I mean, he took off. I’m encouraged by him. He’s such a great practice player, and I think that’s what kind of makes him who he is.”
» Kennesaw State returns to action at 6 p.m. Saturday for the second of four consecutive home games at Fifth Third Bank Stadium as they host Clark Atlanta.
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