Score: Kennesaw State 18, Shorter 10
Records: Kennesaw State (3-0), Shorter (0-2)
Key Players: PK
Justin Thompson (4 Made FGs; 42, 26, 40, 28 yards); LB
Dez Billingslea (65-yard TD fumble recovery; 6 tackles, 1 sack for 4 yards, 1.5 tackles for loss); RB
Micah Reed (26 carries, 100 yards);
Justin Sumpter (5 catches, 121 yards)
Key Plays: Justin Thompson go-ahead 28-yard field goal;
Dez Billingslea 65-yard fumble recovery for touchdown)
Key Stat: Kennesaw State outgained Shorter, 417-126
Box Score (XML) |
Box Score (PDF) |
Postgame Quotes |
Photo Gallery (Greg Ranallo) |
Photo Gallery (Kyle Hess) |
Postgame Press Conference |
HighlightsKENNESAW, Ga. – Three games into its existence, the Kennesaw State football team has already supplied its fans with a season's worth of memories.
The Owls (3-0) have posted two 50-point games and produced a dramatic ending to a come-from-behind fourth-quarter victory.
The latest thrill came on Saturday (Sept. 19) when freshman placekicker
Justin Thompson kicked a go-ahead field goal with 1:39 remaining and redshirt freshman linebacker
Dez Billingslea scooped up a botched snap on a potential game-winning field goal attempt and returned the ball 65 yards for a touchdown to put the exclamation point on an 18-10 victory over Shorter (0-2) before a sold out crowd of 8,664 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
Following Thompson's Big South Conference record-tying fourth made field goal of the game and a 12-10 lead, Shorter moved the ball from its own 28-yard line down to the Owls' 21-yard line with :08 remaining. The Hawks then set up for a potential game-winning field that was never attempted as the bad snap from center never made it to the holder.
Kennesaw State once again showed its potential on offense as the Owls moved the ball up and down the field, gaining 417 yards of total offense. However, penalties and turnovers kept KSU from finding the end zone.
The leg of Thompson, who converted field goal attempts of 42, 26, 40 and 28 yards, and a tough Kennesaw State defense that held Shorter without a second-half first down until its final drive, was enough to keep the young Owls undefeated in their inaugural season.
Notes* The Owls are the first team In Big South history to begin a season 3-0 in their first year in the conference.
*
Derrick Farrow and
Justin Sumpter served as team captains.
* Shorter won the toss, deferred to second half.
* Kennesaw State has scored a defensive or special teams touchdown in each of its first three games.
* Kennesaw State's 417 yards of offense marked the third straight game of totaling more than 375 yards of offense.
* Through three games, the Owls defense has limited its opponents to 33 total points, an average of 11 points per game.
* RBs
Jae Bowen (2-41) and
Chaston Bennett (1-14) had their first career receptions.
*
Justin Thompson's 42-yard field on the opening drive marked the third straight game the Owls have scored on their first possession of the game. Thompson also tied a single-game Big South Conference record with four made field goals (42,26,40,28).
* For the second game in a row,
Trey White and
Justin Sumpter connected for a pass completion on KSU's first offensive play (25 yards).
* The Owls were held without a touchdown in the first half for the first time this season.
Justin Thompson made two field goals to account for all six KSU points.
Justin Sumpter's 114 yards receiving on four carries in the first half represented the first 100-yard receiving day for a KSU receiver. He finished the game with 5 catches for 121 yards.
*
Micah Reed rushed 26 times for 100 yards to become the first KSU player to gain 100 yards rushing.
* Taylor Henke recorded his first career interception.
* DL
McKenzie Billingslea had five solo tackles, including one for loss
* Quarterback
Trey White established season-highs for pass completions (9), attempts (16) and yards (186).
