Kennesaw State’s championship plan is coming together nicely.

Behind a smart game from quarterback Chandler Burks and an amazing effort on defense by Bryson Armstrong, the Owls upset No. 3-seed Jacksonville State 17-7 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs, accelerating coach Brian Bohannon’s goal of building an annual championship contender.

The Gamecocks, a team that is an FCS power with 18 appearances in the playoffs, including its sixth on the FCS level, featured one of the better running backs and rushing defenses in FCS this season, but the Owls, in their third season of football, bettered them strength on strength. Kennesaw State will face the winner of the Sam Houston State-South Dakota game in the next round.

The Owls rushed for 213 yards, including 76 by Burks, to go with 126 yards passing, and held the Gamecocks’ Roc Thomas to 74 yards on 17 carries.