Gabriel Benyard and Tykeem Wallace celebrate in the end zone in win over UTEP. Photo Credit: Jackson Louneoubonh
It wasn’t the prettiest showing, but Kennesaw State football reached bowl eligibility for the first time in its history with a 33-20 win over UTEP at Walens Family Field at Fifth-Third Stadium on Tuesday night.
The previous three seasons of Owls football left much to be forgotten by the current generation of the student body. Over a period filled with losing and controversy, KSU football won just 10 games between 2022 to 2024, the program’s only three losing seasons, in the midst of a transition from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Tuesday’s win marked to many what felt like the death of the lowest era in the football program’s mostly successful history.
The sixth win for KSU qualifies the program to play in a bowl game, something that appeared far beyond reach only a year ago.
“We talked about it before the game, just with the group, just talking about being a part of history,” Owls coach Jerry Mack said. “At the end of the day – whenever we come back, this group right here, this 2025 Kennesaw State Owls team will be the first bowl-eligible team in the history of the program. And you can’t ever take that away from us.”
However, it wasn’t as easy to defeat a 2-5 UTEP as many would expect it to be for the Conference USA-leading Owls.
KSU made up for a quick three-and-out to open the game with a defensive touchdown shortly after.
Redshirt freshman Tywon Christopher, starting in relief of senior linebacker Garland Benyard, dislodged the ball from Miners quarterback Skyler Locklear on a keeper play, and the ball was scooped up by Caleb Offord and returned 23 yards for a touchdown less than two minutes into the game.
After failing to capitalize on offense again, the Owls defense forced another short possession leading to a short punt which was returned 57 yards for a touchdown by Gabriel Benyard, putting KSU ahead 14-0 in the first quarter.
UTEP responded with 11:10 in the second quarter, when Locklear found tight end Josh Schuchts for a 41-yard touchdown following several trick plays.
The Miners drew closer on their next possession when a 38-yard Tanner Cragun field goal made the score 14-10.
Kennesaw’s defense earned more points before the half, when Locklear was dropped in his own end zone for a safety to make the score 16-10 with 1:31 remaining in the second quarter.
Senior Dexter Williams II, who started the game over regular starter Amari Odom, finished a struggle-filled first half having completed 8-of-22 passes for 68 yards and no touchdowns with one interception.
In the second half, an Odom likely not operating at 100-percent took over.
UTEP scored on its opening possession of the half, taking a 17-16 lead thanks to a short pass from Locklear to Miners standout Kenny Odom that the Savannah, Georgia native took 27 yards to the end zone.
The Owls stalled in Odom’s opening series, going three-and-out and UTEP made them pay.
An odd roughing the passer call against Owls defensive back Kody Jones where he was penalized for hitting a receiver before they threw the ball helped work the Miners deep into KSU territory.
A critical third-down stop forced a second UTEP field goal which pushed the visitors’ advantage to 20-16 with 3:48 to go in the third quarter.
On the opening play of the following job, Odom found target Javon Rogers with a spectacular throw that traveled 60 yards through the air to set KSU up inside the UTEP 10-yard line.
Two plays later, Odom called his own number and found his way to the end zone from five yards out to regain the lead for the Owls at 23-20 with 2:24 remaining in the third quarter.
Britton Williams boosted the Owls slight cushion to six points with a 30-yard field goal to make the score 26-20 at the 11:32 mark of the final quarter.
UTEP punted away its next two possessions, and aided by a crucial unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called against Miners defender Cole Gustafson prior to what would have been an Owls fourth-and-long, KSU set itself up to score once more.
Chase Belcher did just that, putting an exclamation on the first 100 or more yard rushing day of his college career and putting the Owls ahead 33-20.
“Preparation [led to my success],” Belcher said. “My coaches having faith in me too. The opportunity of making history fueled us throughout the whole week. I knew when I came out there and came on the field I had to give it my all.”
A Hail Mary toss from Locklear after one second was put back onto the previously expired clock fell harmlessly to the ground, and a reported sellout crowd of 11,040 erupted.
No doubt, the win marks a milestone for the program. But with KSU still undefeated in CUSA play, nearly everything still remains on the table.
“I can’t speak on how proud I am of these guys,” Mack said. “Now with that said, we also know we have a lot more football left to play. We talked about being hungry. We feel like we have a really good football team and we feel like we have some more wins out there to go get.”
