#1 Rickie Collins running with the ball on Sept. 12 at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium. Photo by Jackson Louneoubonh
Kennesaw State could not find an answer for Georgia State’s run game and built up a 21-3 halftime lead as the Owls fell 31-17 to the Panthers Saturday night at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium.
GSU rushed for a total of 230 yards and finished with a total of 483 yards of offense. KSU managed 72 rushing yards and 332 total yards for the game. The Panthers also controlled possession, holding the ball for 15 more minutes than the Owls.
“I thought offensively, we came out flat the entire game,” coach Jerry Mack said. “We never really got in a rhythm and when we did get in a rhythm it was a little too late.”
GSU opened the scoring with a 41-yard field goal. KSU responded with a 29-yard field goal from Daniel Kinney, and the Panthers returned the favor to take a 6-3 lead after the first quarter.
The Panthers extended their lead early in the second quarter with an 18-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Cameran Brown. GSU added another touchdown to close out the half with a 1-yard run by Lanear McCrary Jr.
The Panthers entered halftime with a 21-3 over the Owls.
GSU’s Dennis Murray Jr. opened the second-half scoring with a 12-yard rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 28-3. The Owls finally reached the end zone for the first time in the game as quarterback Rickie Collins scored on a 12-yard touchdown run. Collins connected with Brayden Munroe for the two-point conversion, reducing the deficit to 28-11.
The Panthers came back with another field goal to open up the fourth quarter from 43 yards out, pushing the lead to 31-11.
KSU did not give up as Collins threw a 3-yard touchdown to tight end Jamari Harrold with 1:56 remaining in the game. The Owls failed to convert the two-point conversion, closing out the game 31-17.
Collins led the Owls in passing and rushing yards as he finished with 260 passing yards and 46 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown. Javon Rogers led KSU in receiving yards with 66, while Munroe and Zion Booker added 54 and 52, respectively.
McCrary Jr. led all rushers with a 101-yard game and a touchdown. Brown threw for 253 yards and added 62 yards on the ground with a touchdown.
The loss drops the Owls to 1-1, and GSU improves to 2-0 for the season. KSU will travel to face No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers next Saturday.
