By Chris Raimondi—Sports Editor
The Owls are still undefeated.
Kennesaw State dominated in their first game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, crushing Edward Waters 58-7.
In a day full of ‘firsts’ for the Owls, the only thing that could stop KSU Saturday was themselves.
“It’s great to be 2-0,” KSU head coach Brian Bohannon said. “There was a lot of energy on both sides of the ball. I’m proud to be 2-0. That crowd was phenomenal. The student section, the packed house, it was phenomenal. I don’t know that I’ve been a part of an atmosphere like this in a long time.”
The Owls (2-0) made a quick first impression for the sellout crowd of over 9,500 as KSU scored 35 points in the first quarter.
On the third play of the game defensive end Mason Harris, a South Carolina transfer, sacked Edward Waters quarterback Sir Jackson and forced a fumble. Izzy Sam recovered the loose ball and ran it back for the first touchdown of the game, and the first at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
“At first I thought (the ball carrier) was down,” Sam said. “But I just picked it up and ran. It was a great feeling. My whole life I’ve never scored before, so it was a great feeling.”
The offense amassed 44 points in the win, but it was the defense that seemed to steal the spotlight in the inaugural home game. The Owls’ defense produced two touchdowns, the first from Sam’s fumble recovery, and the second by way of a Derrick Farrow forced fumble and a McKenzie Billingslea scoop-and-score.
Farrow had two forced fumbles, one that resulted in a touchdown and the other which reversed a near-scoring play for the Tigers. With the game well-in-hand at 58-0 in the third quarter, Edward Waters’ running back Ray Dukes exploded for a 73-yard run, but Farrow caught up to Dukes and knocked the ball loose at the 3-yard line. KSU recovered the fumble.
“It was the play of the game,” Bohannon said. “I told (Derrick Farrow) that when he came over to the sideline. A lot of guys would have said, ‘he’s gone, he scored,’ but this kid ran all the way across the field. It’s a great point we’re going to make to our football team.”
After Sam’s initial score KSU built on their 7-0 lead in a hurry, scoring on all eight of its first-half drives to produce a 52-0 halftime score.
Trey White connected with wide receiver Justin Sumpter on the Owls’ first offensive play of the game for a 55-yard touchdown pass and KSU took a 14-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.
The Owls added three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter, two from White and one from backup quarterback Jake McKenzie. White finished with three rushing touchdowns on 64 yards and he was 2-for-3 passing for 70 yards and one touchdown.
On his first rushing touchdown of the game, a 21-yard scramble to the end-zone, White leapt into the student section crowd to celebrate with fans, drawing a penalty which was addressed on the ensuing kickoff.
“It just happened after I crossed the goal line,” White said. “I scored and I was looking straight at the student section and their arms were open so I just went after it. That can’t happen obviously, but it was a great feeling I’m not going to lie.”
KSU finished with 307 yards on the ground. Darnell Holland led all KSU rushers with 68 yards on 3 carries and one touchdown. Micah Reed had 13 rushes for 63 yards and Trey Chivers ran for 47 yards on 10 carries.
The Owls face Shorter University Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m. at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The game is a sellout, as is the third home game against Point University Saturday, Oct. 10.
