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With the Kennesaw State football team in the midst of its bye week, now is a good time to reflect on the first month of the season in which the Owls posted a 3-1 mark, including three straight wins to begin their inaugural campaign.
 
Kennesaw State provided its fans with plenty of memories and thrills that have included two 50-point outputs, a late game come-from-behind victory and a multitude of big plays.
 
The Owls opened their season with a 56-16 victory over East Tennessee State in their inaugural game in Johnson City on Sept. 3, a 58-7 win over Edward Waters in their home opener at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Sept. 12, and a dramatic 18-10 home victory versus Shorter on Sept. 19.
 
Even in its lone loss, Kennesaw State showed its big play capabilities, scoring on its first play from scrimmage and jumping out to a 13-0 lead before eventually falling 31-27.
 
The following are some notes and highlights through three weeks of Kennesaw State football.
 
Game Highlights
 
At East Tennessee State
* The long wait finally ended as the Owls played their inaugural game.
* DL Nick Perrotta had a momentum-changing 19-yard interception return for a TD that gave KSU a 21-13 lead just before halftime.*
* The Owls totaled 49 unanswered points, scoring on 5 straight offensive possessions.
* Seven different players scored TDs, including Jae Bowen who had 2 rushing touchdowns.
* QB Trey White and WR Justin Sumpter connected on a season-long 69-yard scoring play
* KSU outgained ETSU, 512-328 in total yards, including 416 on the ground 

Edward Waters
* The Owls played their inaugural home game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium
* The defense (Izzy Sam and McKenzie Billingslea) returned two fumble recoveries for TDs
* The Owls scored 35 first-quarter points and 58 unanswered
* KSU scored 5 rushing TDs, including 3 by Trey White
* QB Trey White and WR Justin Sumpter connected on 55-Yd. TD on 1st play of game
* Owls' defense held EWC without a 1st down until the 4th quarter
* A sellout crowd of 9,056 witnessed KSU's first home game 

Shorter
* Owls scored 9 points in final 2 minutes to rally for win and improve to 3-0.
* Freshman PK Justin Thompson made 4 FGs (42, 26,40, 28), including game winner
* LB Dez Billingslea sealed win with 65-yd fumble return as time expired
* Owls' defense held Shorter to 162 total yards, including 27 rushing yards
* KSU defense did not a second-half first down until final drive of game
* WR Justin Sumpter had 5 catches for 121 yards
* RB Micah Reed rushed 26 times for 100 yards
* QB Trey White threw for season-high 186 yards and rushed for 77 yards 

Dayton
* DB Marcus Thurman thwarted Dayton's opening drive with first career interception in end zone
* RB Chaston Bennett ran 80 yards for a TD on Owls' first offensive play from scrimmage
* Bennett rushed for a season-high 155 yards
* QB Trey White carried ball 25 times for 128 yards rushing
* White and Bennett became first KSU tandem to rush for 100 yards in same game
* LB Kyron Minter had first career interception
* S Taylor Henkle tallied season-high 10 tackles 

Team Notes
* 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
* KSU is the only FCS program since 2008 to score 50-plus points in each of its first two games
* Kennesaw State is one of just three FCS programs since 2008 to begin its history 3-0, joining Mercer (4-0; 2013) and Old Dominion (3-0; 2009)
* The Owls are the first time in Big South Conference history to begin a season 3-0 in their first year in the conference 

National Team Rankings
* The Kennesaw State offense ranks first in the FCS in yards per pass completions (24.88) and is fourth in rushing offense, averaging 324 yards a game. The Owls are also one of five teams in the country to now allow a sack.
* The Owls rank No. 12 nationally in scoring offense, averaging 39.8 points a game
* The Kennesaw State defense ranks No. 3 in passing yards allowed (130.5), No. 6 in turnovers gained (10), No. 7 in total defense (273.5) and No. 9 in passes intercepted (6).
 
National Individual Rankings
* Wide receiver Justin Sumpter is second in the nation in yards per reception (34.0)
* Defensive back Derrick Farrow ranks fourth in the country with three forced fumbles
* Quarterback Trey White ranks seventh in the nation with five rushing touchdowns 

Miscellaneous Notes
* Quick Strike Offense: The Owls have scored on the first drive in each of their first four games, scoring three touchdowns and making a field goal.
* For the second time in three weeks, KSU scored on its first offensive play as Chsaton Bennett ran 80 yards for a touchdown on the Owls' opening play from scrimmage at Dayton. QB Trey White and WR Justin Sumpter hooked up on 55-yard scoring play versus Edward Waters.
* Kennesaw State has scored a defensive or special teams touchdown in three of its first four games and has forced at least one turnover in all four games.
* The Owls have rushed for more than 300 yards in three of four games and have totaled at least 230 yards in all four games
* KSU's defense has twice recorded two interceptions in a game (at ETSU and at Dayton) and has at least one pick in all four games. The defense has also twice recorded four sacks in a game (Shorter, at Dayton) and has one sack in all four games.
* Six different players (Trey White, Jae Bowen, Chaston Bennett, Trey Chivers, Darnell Holland and Jake McKenzie) have scored rushing touchdowns.
* The Owls have three rushing scores of 46 or more yards
* Wide receiver Justin Sumpter has pass receptions of 69, 55 and 46 yards.
* Six different Owls (Dante Blackmon, Taylor Henkle, Kyron Minter, Nick Perrotta, Keon Roman and Marcus Thurman) have pass interceptions.
* Freshman placekicker Justin Thompson ranks second, and first among kickers, in the Big South Conference with 33 points (18 extra points and 5 field goals).
* Senior defensive end Mason Harris tops the Big South Conference with 6.5 tackles for loss 

Derrick Farrow Honored
* Junior defensive back Derrick Farrow became the first KSU player to earn a weekly award as he was honored as the Big South Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for his performance versus Edward Waters on Sept. 12. Farrow recorded a team-high five tackles and three forced fumbles, including one that led directly to a touchdown and one that prevented a score. 

Next Game
* The Owls will be back in action on Oct. 10 when they host Point in their final non-conference game of the season. The game will mark Homecoming and kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. 
 
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.

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