The Owls have wrapped up their season on a positive note and commemorated graduating seniors, slaying the Dragons in an overwhelming victory of 63-3.
The Owls conclude their season with a monumental, winning score of 63-3 on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Fifth Third Stadium against Virginia University Lynchburg.
Five back-to-back shortfallings with an overall record of 3-6 has made this year’s Kennesaw State University football season filled with hardship and discouragement. Football made it a mission to secure its final game of the season against Virginia University Lynchburg with a massive win.
“Even though this wasn’t our most fondest season, It couldn’t have ended better,” Head Coach Brian Bohannan said in the post-game press conference. “For our team to end on a positive note is huge for us and everyone else.”
With the help of Quarterback Jonathan Murphy, who scored two touchdowns and had the highest number of passing yards (133), Running Back Michael Benefield‘s outstanding 106 rushes and Wide Receiver Issac Foster‘s impressive receiving touchdown and 67 receiving yards—the KSU Owls were able to execute and conquer the VUL dragons.
Within the first 10 minutes of the game, the Owls were up 21-0 with the help of Defensive Back Markeith Montgomery, who scored a defensive touchdown with aninterception pass of 34 yards to the VUL end-zone. Saturday’s final game of the season marked Montgomery’s 53rd and final appearance on the field. He ended his collegiate career being KSU’s all-time record holder with 12 interceptions.
Murphy scored the second touchdown with a loaded 14-yard rush with six minutes left in the first quarter. The remaining two and a half minutes concluded with Benefield securing the team’s third touchdown with a three-yard rush. In addition to this scoring, freshman Kicker Erik Calvillo scored a total of nine points.
The Owls teamed up to score a total of three touchdowns, all in the second quarter, raising the excitement of KSU fans.
Benefield scored the first touchdown with a 29-yard rush, with Tight End Rowan Darnell scoring the second touchdown after a 17-yard pass from Murphy. With one minute left on the clock, Foster concluded the quarter with a 44-yard pass touchdown. All three kicks from Calvillo were cleared.
A field goal made by VUL Kicker Avery Burch in the beginning of the second quarter was not enough to sustain the Dragons against the Owls’ lead of 42-3.
Sophomore QB Davis Bryson, with a 17-yard run, and Running Back DJ Scott, with a one-yard run, both teamed up to score two more touchdowns in the third quarter. Additional scored kicks from Calvillo brought the score to 56-3.
The final quarter of the game went a bit slower on the end of both teams. However, the Owls wrapped up their season with a 17-yard rush touchdown from freshman RB Kenai Grier and a field goal kick from Calvillo. The Owls rejoiced and celebrated together with its final score of 63-3.
The final game of the season was a sentimental moment for both the Owls and Head Coach Bohannan, who expressed his gratitude when discussing what Saturday’s game meant to him.
“What a great end to a challenging, tough and unique season,” Bohannan said. “For the first time all year, our kids went out and had fun and played Kennesaw State football.”
Bohannan mentioned the impactful legacy that the four “super seniors” have set for the program for years to come—including Murphy, Foster, Montgomery and Offensive Lineman Terrell Paxton, who ended his collegiate career being a two-time all-conference selection, and this last game of the season marked his 50th and final appearance on the field. The Owls are officially set to join Conference USA and FCS Program on July 1, 2024.
