By Chris Raimondi, Sports Editor
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Game one is in the books, and Kennesaw State University’s football team is still undefeated.
In front of 8,217 fans at Kermit Tipton Stadium on the campus of Science Hill High School, the Owls thumped the East Tennessee State Buccaneers 56-16 in their first game in school history.
“The most proud I was, was early in the game when things weren’t going like we maybe hoped they would have,” KSU head coach Brian Bohannon said. “They never wavered. I think their expectation was we’re going to go take care of business, and they did.”
With both schools making their football debut, the game appeared to be nail-biter early on before KSU posted 49 unanswered points.
ETSU charged down the field after receiving the initial kickoff and put together a 57 yard drive which included five first downs. KSU committed an offside penalty which put ETSU inside the 20 yard line, but the Owls’ defense rallied to hold the Bucs to a field goal, making the score 3-0 with 6:12 remaining in the first quarter.
Redshirt senior P.J. Stone received the ensuing kickoff and ran it back for an Owls touchdown, but a holding penalty brought the play back to KSU’s own 16 yard line and eliminated what would have been KSU’s first touchdown.
Two plays into the Owls’ first drive, quarterback Trey White rolled out to his right on a third and 10 and scrambled for a 15 yard run, adding a spin move which carried him passed the first down mark to keep the drive alive and prevent an opening three-and-out.
Two plays later White connected with redshirt freshman Justin Sumpter on a 27 yard pass which set up KSU on the ETSU 35 yard line. Long runs later in the drive from White and Chaston Reed put the Owls inside the 10 yard line where KSU would score their first points. With 1:33 left in the first quarter, White powered through defenders to his left to give the Owls a 7-3 lead.
After a three-and-out on the Bucs next possession, KSU forced a punt and started their second drive on their own 12 yard line at the beginning of the second quarter. On the second play of the drive the Owls turned the ball over when White pitched the ball to Bennett on an option which bounced off Bennett’s chest.
With the ball on the KSU 12 yard line, ETSU was again unable to capitalize on the Owls’ mistake and were only able to come away with a field goal.
KSU turned the ball over during their next possession on a fourth and 14 when punter Mason Gann fumbled the long snap and fell on the ball at the 50 yard line. ETSU had more success in cashing in on the Owls’ miscue and assembled a 50 yard drive which ended in a 12 yard touchdown run from Jajuan Stinson to give the Bucs 13-7 lead.
Later in the second quarter KSU was able to put together a 54 yard drive with less than two minutes before halftime which resulted in a two yard Jae Bowen touchdown run and gave the Owls a 14-13 lead. On ETSU’s ensuing possession, Nick Perrotta intercepted Bucs quarterback Nick Sexton on a screen pass and returned it for a touchdown which put KSU up 21-13, the score at halftime.
Coach Bohannon noted he made several adjustments at the half, and they showed.
KSU scored 35 points in the second half, three touchdowns coming in the third quarter and two in the fourth.
“They fought and they fought, and we talked about at halftime coming out,” Bohannon said. “We were going to finish things off. And they did a great job of that. I’m extremely proud of them and our staff as well.”
The Owls’ ground attack bullied its way passed ETSU defenders all night, accounting for 416 of KSU’s 512 yards of total offense.
The first score of the half, however, came through the air. On the second play of the third quarter White completed a 69 yard pass to Sumpter for a KSU touchdown which gave the Owls a 28-13 lead.
Then KSU’s run game started dominating.
Bowen, Darnell Holland, Trey Chivers and Jake McKenzie each scored a rushing touchdown in the second half, the longest coming from Holland who ran it in for 63 yards.
White finished with 96 yards rushing and one touchdown while throwing for 96 yards and one touchdown on 2-for-6 passing. Sumpter hauled in both catches for 96 yards and one touchdown.
Bennett was the second leading rusher with 87 yards, Holland had 83 and one touchdown, Reed picked up 78 yards and Bowen ran for 23 yards with two touchdowns.
KSU will head home to take on Edward Waters Saturday Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. at Fifth Third Bank Stadium for the inaugural home game.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem getting hyped up,” Bohannon said. “We even talked to our kids about it in the locker room for just a moment, and they’re excited about going back home in front of the home crowd. That’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere, and the kids will be ready.”
Number #61 in the picture is Drew McCracken who long snapped eight perfect snaps and three punt snaps which were right on and looked like a lazer !