The Kennesaw State football team returned to the win column this past weekend, rushing for 481 yards to defeat Alabama State by a score of 42-7 on Saturday, Sept.14.
The Owls took control of the game early and never gave up a lead.
“I felt like we got off to a good start and did some good things early on that got us ahead,” head coach Brian Bohannon said. “Coming off the loss last week, that the was the big emphasis this game being attention to detail and executing the game-plan.”
It was the Owls’ defense and special teams that opened the scoring in the first quarter. Senior Tanner Jones blocked an Alabama State punt on the first drive of the game, and KSU converted the turnover into a touchdown four plays later.
On the ensuing drive, sophomore Demetrius Pettway intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, bringing the Owls’ lead to 14-0 less than five minutes into the first quarter. Nine minutes later, the lead was extended to 21-0 thanks to a 55-yard run between the tackles from senior Bronson Rechsteiner.
At halftime, KSU led 28-0. The Owls kept control with its defense and relentless rushing attack. The Owls received the opening kick, and not long after, celebrated a 54-yard touchdown dash by freshman Antavius Grier.
The Hornets were able to prevent a shutout with a touchdown on the following drive, bringing the score to 35-7. Junior quarterback Tommy Bryant, who finished as the leading rusher in the game, ran in a 14-yard touchdown run at the end of the third quarter.
The final quarter was a defensive battle, as neither team scored and the score held 42-7 in favor of the Owls. Since the Owls’ offense was effective all night, KSU’s first punt of the contest came with 56 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
KSU finished with 481 yards on the ground, while six different rushers recorded 50-plus yards. Freshman Joel Parker led the KSU defense with eight tackles.
The Owls will look to put together consecutive wins and end the team’s three-game road trip at Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 21.
