By Chris Raimondi, Sports Editor
Coastal Carolina quarterback Alex Ross broke the Big South Conference record for most total offense all-time when he threw for 262 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-13 win over Kennesaw State Saturday in Conway, South Carolina.
The Owls (6-4, 2-3) had no answers for the Chanticleers’ high-powered offensive which produced 451 total yards. Despite the lop-sided score, KSU managed to produce 433 yards on offense. However, two lost fumbles and 10 penalties for 98 yards limited the Owls’ chances to upset the No. 4 ranked team in the country.
“They’re a good football team, (but) we beat ourself a bunch,” KSU head coach Brian Bohannon said. “We’re a young team, but we had 10 penalties for 100 yards, turnovers. We had 433 yards of offense and really no points to show for it, so we could have played a lot better. They’re a good team, but we could have played a lot better. To play a good team, you’ve got to play better. You can’t beat yourself first.”
Jake McKenzie piloted the KSU offense in his first start of the season as starter Trey White was sidelined with an injury. McKenzie completed 8-20 passes for 136 yards and rushed for 85 yards.
The Owls fell behind 7-0 when Ross completed a 10-yard pass to Tyrell Blanks midway through the first quarter. McKenzie and Co. responded with an eight-play, 70-yard drive which Chandler Burks capped off with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Justin Sumpter after McKenzie was forced to sit out one snap when his helmet came off on the play prior. The PAT was blocked and KSU trailed 7-6 with 4:36 to go in the first quarter.
Coastal responded by scoring on its next four drives to take a 31-6 lead into halftime. The Chanticleers scored again early in the third quarter when Ross tossed his fifth and final touchdown pass of the day to take a 38-6 lead.
KSU drove into Coastal territory six times following the first scoring drive, but five of those possessions resulted in either a punt or a turnover. Down 31-6, the Owls assembled a lengthy drive right before halftime, but a fumble inside the red zone by McKenzie foiled KSU’s chances of garnering momentum before the break.
“Jake did some good things, and he did some things you’d expect out of a first-time starter that’s a redshirt freshman on the road playing at Coastal,” Bohannon said. “But I thought he did some good things. He’s just got to take care of the ball, which is the biggest thing. There’s some things you can’t teach until you get into a game, so it’s a learning moment for him.”
KSU stopped the bleeding with 7:22 to go in the third frame when Darnell Holland scored on a 15-yard touchdown run to make it 38-13.
CCU added its final touchdown with 10:28 to go in the fourth.
The Owls have one game remaining in its inaugural season when they travel to Clinton, South Carolina Saturday to play Presbyterian College.
