GAME 7: Kennesaw State (5-1, 1-0) at Liberty (3-4, 0-2)
DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.
LOCATION: Williams Stadium | Lynchburg, Va.
WATCH: ESPN3
LISTEN: Audio | Brian Giffin (PxP) | Tutan Reyes (Analyst) | Art Eckman (Sideline)
LINKS: ESPN3 | Live Stats | Game Notes (KSU) | Game Notes (Liberty) | Twitter | #WitnessKSU
MEDIA: Media Center | Information Guide | Roster | Owls Insight Podcast | Owls Insight Episode 12
SERIES HISTORY: First Meeting
LAST MEETING: First Meeting






THIS WEEK: Coming off a victory in its Big South Conference debut last week, Kennesaw State will look to keep that positive momentum going when it travels to Lynchburg, Va. to face Liberty Saturday (Oct. 24) at Williams Stadium.
 
Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised live on CW69 throughout the greater Atlanta area. It can also be seen live on ESPN3.
 
LISTEN LIVE: A live audio broadcast with Brian Giffin, Tutan Reyes and Art Eckman describing the action will be available at KSUOwls.com.
 
NATIONAL POLLS: For the first time in its brief history, Kennesaw State appears in the STATS FCS Poll. The Owls were among teams receiving votes with two.
 
NATIONALLY-RANKED OPPONENTS: Liberty will represent the first opponent that has appeared in the FCS nationally rankings. The Flames began the season No. 15 in the STATS FCS Poll, and have been ranked as high as No. 10 before falling out of the Top 25. Liberty is currently receiving 30 votes. Coastal Carolina is No. 2 and Charleston Southern (210) is receiving votes.
 
ATOP THE PERCH: With the exception of the first season of Big South football in 2002, Kennesaw State is the first newcomer to the league to win its first-ever conference game after the Owls defeated Gardner-Webb, 12-7, last Saturday. When including 2002, KSU is just the second team on the list, as GWU won its debut Big South game.
 
ON A RECORD PACE: Kennesaw State's five wins are the second-most by a program in its first season in Big South Conference history. Coastal Carolina (2003), VMI (2003) and Monmouth (2014) won six games during their respective inaugural seasons in the Big South. When adding 2002 to the equation, Gardner-Webb had nine wins during the league's first year of football.
 
Owls Play at FCS Level: Kennesaw State plays at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. KSU joined the Big South Conference as an associate member on Sept. 4, 2013.
 
A Look Ahead: The Owls will return to Fifth Third Bank Stadium next week when they host Monmouth on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. 
 
SCOUTING LIBERTY
• Liberty is 3-4 overall and 0-2 in Big South Conference action after falling 20-17 in overtime at Monmouth.
• The Flames are three-time defending Big South Conference champions and have captured the league title in six of the last seven years.
• Liberty made its first FCS playoff appearance in 2014 and advanced to the second before falling 29-22 to No. 5 Villanova.
• The Flames were picked to finish second in the Big South preseason poll. Liberty received 129 points and six first-place votes to finish behind Coastal Carolina, which garnered 15 first-place votes and 139 points.
• The Flames rank third in the Big South Conference in total offense, averaging 399.7 yards a game. Liberty leads the conference passing offense with 276 yards a game and seventh in rushing offense (123.7).
• Defensively, the Flames are allowing 373 yards a game to rank fourth in the Big South, surrendering 124.1 yards rushing (2nd) and 248.9 yards passing (5th).
• Senior QB Josh Woodrum leads the offense, completing 127-of-272 for 1,890 yards and six touchdowns. He has completed 63.2 percent of his passes and leads the Big South in total offense with 271.6 yards a game.
• Woodrum's favorite target is senior WR Darrin Peterson who has 46 receptions for 508 yards and three TDs.
• Peterson became the Big South's all-time leading for receiving yards this past Saturday versus Monmouth to increase his total to 2,720 yards. He also is conference's all-time leader with 14 100-yard receiving games.
• Defensively, the Flames are led by DE Chima Uzowihe who is the Big South Conference's all-time leader in sacks with 24.5. He leads the Big South with 7.5 sacks this season, two shy of matching the single-season record of 9.5 set by former teammate Toby Onyechi last year.
 
GARDNER-WEBB REVIEW  
• PK Justin Thompson made 4 field goals (30, 33, 26, 31)
• Gardner-Webb was held to just 2 first downs in the 1st half and 11 total
• QB Trey White rushed for KSU single-game season-high 170 yards
• DL Nick Perrotta had game-saving INT with :03 remaining at 1-yard line
• S Derrick Farrow led defense with 7 solo tackles
• Owls defense held GWU to 200 total yards; 127 rushing
• KSU won time-of-possession battle, 38:40 to 21:20
• Owls had 4 drives of 10 or more plays, including 19-play, 83-yard drive that led to a FG.
 
BIG SOUTH HONORS: Freshman PK Justin Thompson and redshirt-junior QB Trey White were honored as Big South Conference Freshman of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week, respectively, for their performance against Gardner-Webb on Saturday.
 
• Thompson made field goals of 30, 33, 26, and 31 yards to account for all of KSU's scoring. White rushed 34 times for 170 yards while averaging 5.0 yards a carry.
• White accounted for 170 of KSU's 239 rushing yards and had a long rush of 25 yards. He also completed 9-of-17 passes for 114 yards, including key 39-yard completion to Justin Sumpter late in the fourth quarter that led to the Owls' final field goal.
 
• S Derrick Farrow became the Owl to receive a Big South Conference weekly honor when he was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 14 following an impressive performance versus Edward Waters on Sept. 12.
•  Farrow was a disruptive and dominating force during the Owls' 58-7 victory as he recorded a team-high five tackles and three forced fumbles, including one that led directly to a touchdown and one that prevented a score.
 
DEBUT PROGRAMS IN 2015: Kennesaw State is one of four institutions who have debuted football in 2015. Along with the Owls, East Tennessee State (FCS), Finlandia University (Division III), located in Hancock, Mich. and Lyon College (NAIA) in Batesville, Ark. started football programs this fall. The Owls are 5-1, while East Tennessee State is 0-6, while Finlandia is 1-6 and Lyon College is 0-7.
 
WINNING MENTALITY: Kennesaw State has opened the year and program history with a 5-1 start, becoming the second FCS program since 2008 to win five of its first six during its inaugural season. Mercer also posted a 5-1 record in its debut season of 2013.
 
ONE FOR THE BOOKS: Kennesaw State set the Big South single-game record for total offense with 699 yards versus Point (Oct. 10), bettering the old mark of 695 set by Charleston Southern vs. West Virginia Wesleyan in 2015. KSU amassed 391 rushing yards and 308 passing yards, becoming just the second team in Big South history with 300 rushing and 300 passing yards in the same game. The first was Coastal Carolina in 2006 against Gardner-Webb (332 rush, 306 pass).
 
WHITE ON THE RUN: QB Trey White set a Big South single-game record for most quarterback rushing attempts (34) versus Gardner-Webb on Saturday. His 170 rushing yards against the Runnin' Bulldogs were third-most in a game by a signal-caller. White is the Big South's top rushing quarterback this season with 610 yards (third overall), and his yardage is already the sixth-highest single-season total by a QB in league history.
 
JUST FOR KICKS: Freshman PK Justin Thompson tied the Big South single-game record with four field goals versus Gardner-Webb on Saturday. It was the second time this season Thompson made four
field goals in a game, previously accomplishing the feat versus Shorter (Sept. 19), becoming just the third kicker in league history with multiple 4-field goal efforts. Liberty's Matt Bevins did it a record four times in his career, while VMI's Matt Sharpe achieved it twice in 2003.
 
BIG PLAY J: Redshirt-freshman Justin Sumpter has shown a knack for coming up with big catches early in his first season. The Owls' WR has caught 10 pass for 296 yards and three touchdowns. He is currently averaging 29.6 yards a reception to rank third in the country in yards per reception. Sumpter has three catches of 46 or more yards, including a 69-yard TD reception in the inaugural game at East Tennessee State.
 
National Team Rankings
• Kennesaw State ranks first in the FCS in passing yards per completion (22.16 yards), sacks allowed (1), third in third down conversion percentage (53.0), team passing efficiency (166.26) and fourth in rushing offense (324.5 per game)
• The Owls' defense ranks fifth in the FCS in total defense (272.3 yards per game), passing yards allowed (134.7 ypg.) and scoring defense (14.7 ppg.), and eighth in first down defense (84).
• Freshman placekicker Justin Thompson ranks sixth in the FCS in field goals per game (1.5). He has made nine field goals in six games.
• Junior defensive back Derrick Farrow has three forced fumbles to rank fifth in the FCS in forced fumbles per game (.5)
• Redshirt freshman wide receiver Justin Sumpter ranks fourth in the FCS in yards per reception (22.40)
 
Team Notes
• Kennesaw State is the only FCS program since 2008 to score 50-plus points in each of its first two games (56 at East Tennessee State, 58 versus Edward Waters)
• The 56 points scored by the Owls in their opener at East Tennessee State are the most scored by a debuting Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program dating back to 2008, and the 40-point margin of victory is the second largest during that time.
• Kennesaw State is the sixth different program to win its first game as a member of the Big South Conference
 
Quick Strike Offense
• The Owls have scored on the first drive in five of their first six games, scoring four touchdowns and making a field goal. KSU had its streak of five straight snapped versus Gardner-Webb on Saturday.
• KSU has twice scored on its first offensive play of a game. QB Trey White and WR Justin Sumpter hooked up on 55-yard scoring play versus Edward Waters on Sept. 12, and RB Chsaton Bennett ran 80 yards for a TD on KSU's opening play from scrimmage at Dayton (Sept. 26).
 
Ball Hawks
• The Owls' defense has forced at least one turnover in all six games this season.
• Kennesaw State has scored a defensive (3) or special teams (1) touchdown in three of six games.
 
Keep Out
• Kennesaw State has held its opponents scoreless in the first quarter for the four of six games this season. The Owls have allowed a total of 10 points in first quarter this season.
• Saturday's game versus Gardner-Webb marked the first time this season that it has held an opponent scoreless in the first half.
•The Owls have held five of their six opponents to under 20 points. Dayton (31) is the only team to score 20-plus points against KSU.
 
Opening Act
• The Owls are averaging 24.5 points in the first half through their first six games, while their defense is surrendering just 9.0 points in the first half and 13.3 points in the second half.
 
Full House
• Eight different players have scored a touchdown for the Owls this season.
 
Ground Attack
• Kennesaw State leads the Big South with 324.5 rushing yards per game.
• KSU has rushed for more than 300 yards in a game four times
this season.
 
Stopping the Run
• Kennesaw State has rushed for 325 or more yards in four of its six games and has held five of its six opponents to under 200 rushing yards, and two teams have failed to gain 100 yards rushing.
 
Air Defense
• Seven different players have intercepted a pass for Kennesaw State, including defensive lineman Nick Perrotta who has two.
• KSU's defense has twice recorded two interceptions in a game (at ETSU and at Dayton)
• The defense has also twice recorded four sacks in a game (Shorter, at Dayton) and has at least one sack in all five games.
 
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: KSU has wasted little time introducing itself to its opponents. The Owls have outscored their opponent 71-10 in the first quarter through their first six games. KSU scored a season-high 35 points in the first 15 minutes versus Edward Waters. Meanwhile, Kennesaw State has allowed just one first-quarter TD (at Dayton) and three time held opponents (Edward Waters, Shorter, Point, Gardner-Webb) scoreless in the first quarter.
 
WINNING RETURNS: Through six games, KSU has four TD returns by its defense and special teams. When redshirt freshman LB Dez Billingslea returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game against Shorter (Sept. 19), it was the third of the season for the Owls and tied a Big South Conference single-season record. 
 
A NIGHT OF FIRSTS: The Owl's 56-16 win over East Tennessee State on Sept. 3 marked a night of firsts in the history of the Kennesaw State football program. Here is a list of a few of the firsts:
 
• First Offensive Play: Trey White 4-yard rush
• First Touchdown: Trey White 6-yard run (1st quarter)
• First Passing Touchdown: White 69 yards to Justin Sumpter (3rd quarter)
• First Defensive Tackle: Taylor Henkle (1st quarter)
• First Defensive Touchdown: Nick Perrotta 19-yard INT return (2nd quarter)
 
INAUGURAL GAME OFFENSIVE NOTES:
• Kennesaw State had five touchdown drives of 50 or more yards, including four of 65 yards or more
• The 56 points are the most scored by a debuting FCS program dating back to 2008, and the 40-point win is the second largest during that same time period. KSU is one of just two teams to open against another FCS program among 10 institutions that have started a program. Charlotte, which debuted as an FCS program and has since moved to the FBS level, defeated Campbell, 52-7, in 2013.
• The 56 points by the Owls tied for the fifth most scored in FCS play during the opening weekend and led Big South Conference teams
• The 512 total yards gained led Big South Conference teams and KSU's 416 yards rushing were the third-highest total nationally

INAUGURAL DEFENSIVE GAME NOTES:
• Redshirt junior defensive lineman Nick Perrotta had a game-changing 19-yard interception return for a TD late in the second quarter that gave the Owls a 21-13 lead. He finished with four tackles, including two for loss.
• Kennesaw State limited ETSU to 98 rushing yards (2.6 yards per carry)
• Redshirt senior defensive lineman Mason Harris tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including three for loss and a sack for 10 yards. He also had two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
• Redshirt freshman Taylor Henkle tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including one for loss, and had a pass breakup. He also recorded the first defensive tackle in program history.
• Redshirt defensive back Dante' Blackmon had four tackles and returned an interception 23 yards.
 
SMASHING DEBUT: Kennesaw State is the sixth different program to win its first game as members of the Big South Conference, joining Gardner-Webb and Elon in 2002, Coastal Carolina in 2003, Stony Brook in 2008 and Monmouth in 2014. Meanwhile, the Owls' 56 points at East Tennessee State was the most scored by a Big South member in a season opener against an FCS opponent, and the fourth-most points scored overall in an opening game of a season since the league's formation in 2002.
 
OWLS FLY INTO BIG SOUTH RECORD BOOK: One game into its history, Kennesaw State immediately wrote itself into the Big South Conference record book. The Owls' 416 yards and six touchdowns rushing in their debut game against East Tennessee marked just the 10th time in league history that a football member gained at least 415 yards on the ground with six rushing TDs. The last to do it was Presbyterian on Sept. 6, 2014 against Bluefield (523/7). KSU's performance was just the fifth such effort against an FCS opponent.
 
THE SENIORS: The five seniors on the Kennesaw State roster include Chaz Cheeks (DL, Gainesville, Ga. / Georgia Tech), Brett Gillespie (OL, Kennesaw, Ga. / North Greenville), Ryan Godhigh (RB, Acworth, Ga. / Harrison HS), Mason Harris (DL, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. / South Carolina) and Prentice Stone (Marietta, Ga. / Eastern Kentucky). 
 
TRYOUT TO THE TWO-DEEP: A handful of players who took part in tryouts over the last year and a half, have made significant impressions on the coaching staff and earned their way onto the two-deep. Redshirt senior offensive lineman Brett Gillespie, redshirt junior defensive lineman Nick Perrotta, redshirt sophomore linebacker Izzy Sam and redshirt senior Ryan Godhigh were part of the initial tryout on March 22, 2014. Additionally, redshirt senior PJ Stone (wide receiver) and redshirt freshman defensive back Shawn Reynolds have gone from tryout hopefuls to earning spots on the Owls two-deep.
 
LEADING THE WAY: Redshirt-freshman quarterback Chandler Burks (Douglasville, Ga. / South Paulding HS) was the first recruit to verbally commit and sign with Kennesaw State. He committed in in the summer of 2013 and signed an NLI on Feb. 5, 2014. Burks was one of 29 players who were part of the initial signing class.
 
A GLANCE AT THE SCHEDULE: Kennesaw State faces a challenging in its inaugural season. Six of the Owls' 10 opponents posted winning records in 2014, including five of six Big South Conference teams. Non-conference foe Dayton (8-3) and Big South rivals Liberty (9-5), Monmouth (6-5), Charleston Southern (8-4), Coastal Carolina (12-2) and Presbyterian (6-5) all had winning records a year ago.
 
SCOUTING THE BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE: The Big South Conference is considered one of the country's top NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) conferences. According to HERO Sports, the Big South Conference is No. 2 among the 13 conferences, behind only the Missouri Valley Conference. STATS FCS has listed the Big South as the fourth-best conference, trailing the Missouri Valley, Colonial Athletic Association and Big Sky Conference. The Big South Conference has had two teams advance to the FCS playoffs in each of the last three seasons.
 
KENNESAW STATE-ALABAMA STATE AGREE TO 4-YEAR SERIES:
Kennesaw State and Alabama State agreed to a four-year series that will run 2017 and run through 2020. The two teams will meet play at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in 2017 and 2019 and in Montgomery, Ala. in 2018 and 2020.   

Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium is the home of women's soccer, women's lacrosse and football.

Keep up with Kennesaw State Athletics by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook. You also can follow Kennesaw State football at @KennesawSTFB and The Owls fund on Twitter at @TheOwlsFund.