Kennesaw State University Athletics

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KENNESAW, Ga., -- On the strength of three first-half touchdowns by junior RB Darnell Holland, Kennesaw State defeated Charleston Southern, 38-0, Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium to extend its program-record winning streak to nine games.
 
The Owls (9-1, 4-0) will host Monmouth next Saturday (Nov. 18) at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in a 2 p.m. in a contest that will determine the Big South Conference championship and automatic berth to the FCS playoffs. Monmouth defeated Gardner-Webb 41-14 on Saturday to improve to 9-1 overall and 4-0 in Big South play.

"It's a great win. I am so proud of our kids, this program, and the way we came out and competed to beat a team we haven't beat since we started," said head coach Brian Bohannon. "I thought our kids came out and controlled the game from the start and we shut them out, which is hard to do, period. I'm awfully proud of our kids and we have to go finish this thing off. It was a good night for the Owls."
 
Holland's career-high three rushing touchdowns and a stout defense that forced four turnovers limited Charleston Southern (5-5, 2-2) to 187 total yards highlighted the victory. The 38-point win over Charleston Southern marked the Owls' largest margin of victory over a Big South Conference opponent in program history. The previous record was a 45-10 (35 points) win over Presbyterian in 2016. 
 
Sophomore RB Bronson Rechsteiner (26 yards) and Tommy Bryant (51 yards) also scored touchdowns on the ground as the Owls rushed for five scores for the third time this season while amassing 343 rushing yards and finishing with 411 total yards.
 
After punting on their opening drive, the Owls scored on each of their next three possessions. Holland capped a nine-play, 62-yard drive with a 21-yard run with 4:24 remaining in the first quarter to put KSU up 7-0.
 
Kennesaw State built a 21-0 lead in the second quarter as it took advantage of a fumble recovery by Tonarius Portress and McKenzie Billingslea's first career interception.
 
Following Portress' fumble recovery that gave the Owls the ball at the Buccaneers' 25-yard line, KSU used six plays to find the end zone when Holland found pay dirt from eight yards out with 14:50 left in the first half that built a 14-0 advantage following Justin Thompson's extra point.
 
Kennesaw State extended its streak of at least one interception in every game (10) this season when Billingslea tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage and caught his own deflection to give the Owls the ball at the Charleston Southern 37-yard line.
 
The Owls used six plays to move 37 yards, scoring on a one-yard run by Holland that gave KSU a 21-0 lead with 11:05 remaining in the quarter.
 
The game's lone score in the third quarter came on a 36-yard field goal by Thompson that gave Kennesaw State a 24-0 lead with 8:47 left in the quarter.
 
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Owls extended their lead to 31-0 on a career-long 26-yard run by Rechsteiner with 7:34 remaining in the game.
 
Bryant, a redshirt freshman, replaced starter Chandler Burks at quarterback with 3:33 remaining in the contest and ran around the left side for a 51-yard score and his first career touchdown.
 
Redshirt junior linebacker Anthony Gore, Jr. led the Owls' defense, recording eight solo tackles that included two tackles for loss and a sack. Redshirt junior linebacker Jace White also had an interception in the contest.

 POSTGAME NOTES

• The victory extends the Owls' school-record winning streak to nine.
• The 9-1 overall record and 4-0 mark in Big South play are also program-bests.
• The 38-point win over Charleston Southern marked the Owls' largest margin of victory over a Big South Conference opponent in program history. The previous record was a 45-10 (35 points) win over Presbyterian in 2016. 
• The nine wins mark a KSU program-record for most wins in a single season – previous, 8-3 in 2016.
• Kennesaw State's victory over Charleston Southern snapped the Bucs' nine-game road winning streak, the longest in Big South history dating back to 2014.
• Senior DE Tonarius Portress (fumble recovery), junior DE McKenzie Billingslea (interception), junior DB Jace White (interception) and Justin Marcus (fumble recovery) tallied takeaways on the night. It was the fifth time this season the Owls totaled at least three takeaways in a game.
• Billingslea's interception and Marcus' fumble recovery marked their first career takeaways.
• Kennesaw State, which entered the game ranked third in the nation in total interceptions, has picked off a pass in every game this season. The Owls have totaled 19.
• The Owls were a +14 in points-off-turnover for the game and hold an 89-10 (+79) turnover scoring for the season.
• Junior RB Darnell Holland rushed for 109 yards on 16 attempts. His three scores marked a single-game career high.
• The game marked the third time this season the Owls have held an opponent scoreless through three quarters (vs. Tenn. Tech, at Presbyterian)
• KSU held Charleston Southern scoreless in the first half. That is the second time this season the Owls defense has kept an opponent off the scoreboard over the first 30 minutes this season with the first coming at Presbyterian on Oct. 28.
• In fact, the shutout marked the third time in program history the Owls held an opponent scoreless.
• Junior K Justin Thompson's 36-yard field goal in the third quarter was his 13th made field goal, breaking the previous school-record of 12 field goals in 2015.
• Redshirt-Freshman Tommy Bryant scored his first career toucdown on a career-long 51-yard run in the fourth quarter.
• The nation's best rushing team, KSU rushed 58 times for 343 yards. It marks the seventh straight game and eighth time this season the Owls have surpassed 300 yards on the ground. 
• Today's captains: Taylor Henkle, Chandler Burks and Justin Thompson.  

Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the signature athletics landmark on the Kennesaw State University campus, is a world-class facility that has been recognized as one of the premier multi-use outdoor athletics venues in the country. In the fall of 2015, it become the official home of Owls football team and is home to Owls soccer and lacrosse as well.
 
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.

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