Junior quarterback Tommy Bryant combined for all five touchdowns to lead the Kennesaw State football team to a 38-35 win over Campbell University on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Bryant made an immediate impact filling in for injured starting quarterback Daniel David, leading KSU to scoring drives on each of his first three possessions under center. Bryant rushed for three and threw for two touchdowns during Saturday’s matchup.
“We had a lot of fight today,” head coach Brian Bohannon said. “Our kids fought through a lot of adversity.”
A week after falling to Monmouth at home for its second loss of the season, KSU rallied on the road against the Camels in a game that involved an injury to David late in the first quarter.
The Owls fell behind during the second quarter, with the defense allowing Campbell to march down the field multiple times as Monmouth did last week. Down 14-3, Bryant ran the ball on six consecutive plays resulting in the first touchdown for the Owls.
After its defense allowed a third touchdown, KSU continued to gain momentum on offense. With 30 seconds left in the half, Bryant completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Shaquil Terry.
In the third quarter, KSU earned its first lead of the game after a seven minute drive. Despite a 65-yard run called back during the drive due to a holding penalty, the constant rushing attack of the Owls proved too much for Campbell.
The KSU defense found its footing during the third quarter, forcing a key turnover to help extend the lead.
Junior linebacker Bryson Armstrong managed an interception just three plays into the first Campbell possession after the Owls took a 24-21 lead. Armstrong returned the interception to the Campbell 26-yard line, setting up the KSU offense for another scoring opportunity.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Bryant threw his second touchdown pass of the day to Terry. By the end of the third quarter, the Owls held a ten-point lead.
KSU allowed Campbell back into the game early in the fourth quarter, as Bryant fumbled the ball at his own 35-yard line to give the opposing team a short field to work with.
Less than a minute later, the Camels took advantage of the turnover with a touchdown — just a field goal away from tying the game.
Bryant made up for his turnover with a long drive, rushing the ball eight times and scoring his third touchdown on the ground. In total, Bryant finished the game with 27 rushing attempts for 105 yards.
With less than seven minutes remaining in the game, Campbell embarked on a drive that would result in another touchdown.
In the final drive of the game, KSU found itself backed up deep in its own territory after Bryant was sacked for a loss of 14 yards. After Bryant threw a 19-yard pass to Terry and senior running back Bronson Rechsteiner managed a three-yard run, the Owls faced a fourth down play at its own 33-yard line.
Sophomore running back Adeolu Adeleke secured the victory as he rushed for a first down. The KSU offense then ran down the clock from that point to finish the game 38-35.
The No. 11 Owls will seek to continue its momentum on the road Saturday, Nov. 16, taking on Hampton University at 1 p.m.
