By Chris Raimondi, Sports Editor
Kennesaw State will finish its inaugural football season with a winning record.
The Owls (6-2, 2-1) beat Monmouth Saturday 23-13 to clinch a winning season and get back into the win column after a 45-35 loss at Liberty last week.
“You really don’t know what the expectations are when you come into a season and you‘ve never had one before. All you’re trying to do is get better every week. We have assured ourselves a winning season, and that is a big deal,” KSU head coach Brian Bohannon said.
KSU has three Big South Conference games remaining, one at home this Saturday against Charleston Southern, and two on the road to finish the season at Coastal Carolina then Presbyterian.
The Hawks (3-6, 1-3) entered Saturday’s contest coming off of a 23-20 loss to No. 1 Coastal Carolina, and they looked every bit like a team who could play with anybody.
“They didn’t look that big on tape,” Bohannon said of Monmouth’s size. The Hawks exerted their dominance on the first drive of the game after receiving the opening kickoff, going 65-yards in six plays to take a 7-0 lead 2:26 into the first quarter.
The Owls, however, regrouped quickly after the flat start. After allowing 119 rushing yards in the first quarter, KSU held Monmouth to 68 yards on the ground the remainder of the game.
Anthony Gore Jr. led the defense with 10 tackles, finishing just ahead of safety Taylor Henkle who had nine tackles to go along with two interceptions.
Third-string center Lorenzo Adger was the Owls’ starter after losing starter Malik Letatau and backup Brett Gillespie to injuries. Matt Frank also got his first start on the line at left guard with injuries piling up for KSU’s o-line.
The shifting in the trenches appeared to be non-problematic for the Owls’ offense as they produced 341 yards rushing. KSU leads the Big South in rushing with 2,580 yards. Charleston Southern is second with 1,962.
“It was different,” Adger said of playing center. “I got to touch the ball every play, so that was a good thing. But it was different. I would say I was decent enough, I mean we won.”
The offensive line paved the way for long scoring drives, something that has become commonplace for the Owls since beginning conference play. KSU had four scoring drives, all of which went for 56-yards or more.
Trailing 7-0, the Owls dominated the second quarter by outscoring the Hawks 16-0 and keeping possession for all but two minutes in the quarter. KSU held the advantage in time of possession 36 to 24.
Jae Bowen got KSU on the board midway through the second quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run which ended an 80-yard drive.
After Monmouth went three-and-out on its next possession, KSU marched down the field in eight plays to take a 13-7 lead when Bowen caught a 2-yard White pass for another touchdown, but the extra point was missed.
The Owls assembled another long drive to end the half, but they couldn’t get six when White’s pass sailed just long of an outstretched P.J. Stone in the end zone with one second left in the half. Kicker Justin Thompson added a 37-yard field goal as time expired and KSU went into the locker room with a 16-7 lead.
KSU dominated possession again in the third quarter and opened the half with a 58-yard scoring drive that put the Owls up 23-7 when White scored a 3-yard rushing touchdown.
Monmouth tacked on a late score with one minute left in the game to make it 23-13 after a failed 2-point conversion, and the Hawks made things more interesting when they recovered an onside kick.
However, Henkle made his second interception of the game on Monmouth’s first play of the ensuing drive and the Owls lined up in victory formation.
Chaston Bennett finished as the leading rusher with 124 yards on six carries. White spread the ball with 102 yards rushing, 114 passing and two total touchdowns.
Charleston Southern comes to Fifth Third Bank Stadium Saturday after knocking off No. 1 Coastal Carolina 33-25. The Bucs are 7-1, 4-0. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Kennesaw.
