After taking last Saturday off with early bye week, Kennesaw State returned home to Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Saturday to defeat Division II North Greenville 38-34.
Here are five things to know about the Owls’ third win of the season.
1. Kennesaw State rallied in the last five minutes for the win
When North Greenville took its first lead of the game since the early minutes of the first quarter with a 33-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, Kennesaw State rallied.
A 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Chandler Burks with 16 seconds left in the game won the game for the Owls.
“The message was very clear for us: It was to go get in the end zone, keep our composure and don’t do anything outside of our means and go play and go execute,” Burks said about the Owls’ final drive. “It’s the same story we have every time we go out there. We’re looking for all 11 to go execute, and we were able to do that.”
Cornerback Keon Roman sealed the game when he recorded his second interception of the game with seven seconds left on the clock.
North Greenville (3-2) had a three-point lead with 5:04 left in the game thanks to a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Will Hunter to wide receiver Robbie Brown on a fourth-and-7 play.
Hunter threw for 283 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions against the Owls.
The Crusaders attempted a two-point conversion after the touchdown which was caught by wide receiver Christian Bruce.
“We might have grown up a little bit on that last drive. ... We didn’t play too well at times, but whatever we had to do, we found a way,” coach Brian Bohannon said after the game.
The Owls (3-1) stuggled in limiting the Crusaders’ passing game, allowing 300 passing yards by quarterback Will Hunter. North Greenville averaged 179 passing yards per game entering Saturday’s game.
In their first three games of the season, the Owls limited opponents 242.8 passing yards per game.
“We knew the quarterback had a decent arm. I don’t think we really went into the game knowing he could sling it around like he did,” safety Taylor Henkle said.
“It was nothing really that they did special. I mean, they made plays. ... Maybe we weren’t as prepared for the quarterback as we should have been but maybe that’s something we can learn for the future.”
2. Kennesaw State’s Burks injured in the third quarter
Kennesaw State quarterback Chandler Burks was injured during the Owls’ second possession of the third quarter.
Burks, a sophomore, limped slightly as he walked off the field unassisted. Burks returned late in the third quarter for the Owls and played the entire fourth quarter.
Bohannon said Burks cramped up and was able to return quickly, but he let sophomore Daniel David finish the series he was in.
David entered the game for Burks and was 2-for-3 passing for 22 yards and rushed for 14 yards and a touchdown on five carries during Burks’ absence.
Burks was 5-for-10 passing for 111 yards and one touchdown and led the Owls in rushing with 100 yards and two touchdown on 22 carries.
Kennesaw State nose tackle Auzoyah Alufohai was also injured in the third quarter of Saturday’s game. The junior was able to walk off the field unassisted.
Owls offensive lineman Joseph Alexander Jr. was injured in the fourth quarter.
3. Kennesaw State allowed a field goal in the last two minutes of the first half
At halftime, it was a one-score game between Kennesaw State and North Greenville, 21-16.
North Greenville trailed 21-13 before kicking a 39-yard field goal to end the first half. The Crusaders began their final possession of the first half with 2:09 on the clock.
Hunter threw 3-for-3 for 34 yards on the drive and running back Tristen Jackson rushed for 18 yards on four carries to put the Crusaders in field-goal range.
All season, Bohannon said he’s been preaching the Owls need to prepare like it's the Super Bowl every week. He said his team is struggling with keeping their feet on the gas when the game feels like it’s in hand.
“For whatever reason, I think sometimes we think we’re a little better than we are, and when we get in these positions we go a little on cruise control. ... It is a hot topic in our building,” Bohannon said.
4. Kennesaw State’s Bryson Armstrong blocked an extra point
Armstrong blocked a North Greenville extra-point attempt in the second quarter.
Armstrong, a redshirt freshman safety who also returns punts on special teams for the Owls, had a big day on defense. Armstrong recorded two sacks and six tackles against the Crusaders.
"We kept fighting, it wasn't pretty, but I was proud of our guys to find a way," Bohannon said.
Crusaders’ kicker Matt Gravely was lined up to kick the extra point after a 44-yard touchdown run by Heard — his second rushing touchdown of the day — lessened the Owls’ lead, 21-13.
5. North Greenville scored three points off a KSU fumble
The Owls led 28-23 with 13:01 remaining in the fourth quarter when Kennesaw State running back Jake McKenzie fumbled for the Owls’ only turnover of Saturday’s game.
McKenzie’s fumble was forced by North Greenville’s defensive lineman Seth Laugher and recovered by defensive lineman Desmond Williams on the Kennesaw State 14-yard line.
The Crusaders were stopped and forced to kick a 27-yard field goal, which decreased the Owls’ lead, 28-26.
"I'm hoping, I'm praying that some things that happened tonight will resonate with our football team," Bohannon said.
Kennesaw State will play Texas Southern at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
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