The Atlanta sun looked over the inaugural football game at SunTrust Park as the Kennesaw State football team defeated Jacksonville State 60-52 in a five-overtime thriller on Saturday, Nov. 17.
What started as a game for playoff seeding ended as a measurement of two rivals’ wills.
Running back Darnell Holland scored on a 13-yard run in the fifth overtime before Bryson Armstrong ended the Gamecocks’ hopes with an end zone interception to finalize the victory for the Owls.
“This was probably the wildest football game I have ever been a part of in my coaching career,” KSU head coach Brian Bohannon said. “Two really good football teams who left every ounce of what they had on the grass tonight. I cannot say enough about coach Grass and Jacksonville State as a football team.”
Down 24-17 in the fourth quarter, the Owls faced a long fourth down with around two minutes remaining.
The drive was sustained by a jumping catch along the sideline by wide receiver Justin Sumpter. Although the call on the field initially ruled him out of bounds, the replay overruled the call and gave the Owls a first down at the Jacksonville State 20-yard line.
“Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. That’s what he did.” quarterback Chandler Burks said. “We have a lot of trust in [Sumpter].”
Following the catch, Burks took over and eventually scored a rushing touchdown to tie the game 24-24.
Throughout the game, the Owls overcame constant momentum changes. The team trailed 14-0 early in the second quarter but settled in as the game continued.
“It was just a dream out there,” linebacker Anthony Gore said. “I can’t even tell you how we came back and kept going, but we’re a special team and we played special tonight.”
On a pitch to the right, running back TJ Reed ran for a 21-yard touch down to put the Owls on the board. The nearly 17,000 fans in attendance, mostly representing KSU, let out a united sigh of relief and the game was on.
The two teams combined for 944 total yards and 15 touchdowns.
KSU’s second-ranked defense, which allowed 235 yards per game this season, gave up 519 yards Saturday night. The Gamecocks had allowed 88 rushing yards per game, but gave up 351 to the Owls.
Burks led the Owls with three rushing scores and two touchdown passes. Holland had 13 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
“I don’t know that we played particularly great,” Bohannon said. “I give Jacksonville State credit for a big piece of that, but we played good enough to win. At the end of the day, that’s what’s most important at this time.”
Both teams came through under pressure as the Gamecocks converted four of five fourth-down conversions and the Owls were three of four. In the end, KSU made one more play to win, finishing stronger than they started.
“I came here to be able to be on a stage like this that provides me the opportunity to play big-time football. That’s why I came here,” Burks said. “It just adds to the greatness and excitement that’s around Kennesaw State.”
As a result of the victory, the Owls solidified the fourth overall seed in the FCS playoffs and earned a first-round bye and hosting either Wofford or Elon on Dec. 1.
