#27 Britton Williams pictured moments after kickoff at Allegency Stadium, August 29, 2025 Photo Credit: KSU Athletics
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Kennesaw State football’s kicking game left the Owls painfully short of the program’s first win over a power-conference opponent in a 10-9 loss to Wake Forest.
After surrendering an opening drive score to the Demon Deacons by way of a five-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Robby Ashford, the Owls responded almost immediately by driving 75 yards in 10 plays in just over three minutes to set up a Coleman Bennett 19-yard rushing touchdown.
Bennett, a transfer from Rice after previously producing consistent statistics at Bucknell made his KSU debut on Friday, finishing with 66 yards on 17 carries and the Owls lone touchdown.
“It was definitely fun just to be able to be out there again,” Bennett said. “Run the ball, pass pro, catch the ball in the backfield. Shout out to God for making that possible. (I’m) just thanking the coaches for trusting me, my teammates for putting it all out there for me.”
Starting kicker Britton Williams was unable to convert the extra point, however, keeping KSU at a 7-6 deficit with 4:38 to go in the first quarter.
Shortly after, Williams missed a 36-yard attempt which would’ve given the Owls a 9-7 lead. The senior appeared to be injured on the play and wouldn’t appear in the game again.
Freshman Daniel Kinney gave the Owls a lead in the second half after neither team was able to score again in the second quarter, converting a 29-yard kick on the Owls opening possession of the period to give them a 9-7 lead.
“You definitely can expect Daniel (Kinney) to be kicking (going forward),” Owls coach Jerry Mack said.
KSU’s offense was unable to put points on the board the rest of the way, never again finishing a drive on Wake’s side of the field.
“I really fell like (the offensive struggles) were more self-inflicted wounds more than anything else,” Mack said. “Kudos to those guys, (Wake is) a Power Four football team. They’ve got big, strong, powerful people inside of the ball. But at the end of the day, I said before the game, we’re looking to be all about us.”
Wake kicker Connor Calvert’s 22-yard field goal late in the third quarter proved to be decisive, giving the Demon Deacons a 10-9 lead they wouldn’t surrender.
“Really proud of the way guys competed and fought tonight,” Mack said. “I was really impressed with our defense and just the battle that they kind of put out there. Offensively, we got to do a better job of executing — You can see second half especially, we just didn’t show up like we should have in the second half. And Special team’s wise, we got to make those extra points, make those field goals. As you can see those kind of tell that tale as the game progressed– We make those, we’re probably up in the fourth quarter.”
