The Owls’ brought home their 12th consecutive win at home after a 24-22 victory against Wofford Terriers at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Saturday.
The Owl’s defense played a huge part in this game including catching three interceptions, one of which secured their lead after a late touchdown drive by the Terriers. This interception would seal the deal for the Owls giving them the win.
Markeith Montgomery caught his sixth career interception, in which he ran for a 78-yard touchdown to jumpstart the scoring for the Owls. This was the longest interception return in Owls history and it put him in third place on the all-time interceptions caught in Owls history.
Jonathan Murphy got the nod from Coach Brian Bohannon tonight over Xavier Shepherd, marking the junior quarterback’s first start of the season.
“The switch was made because he earned the right to go start,” Bohannon said, “He earned that and we told both of them going into the game that we didn’t necessarily have a plan. We’re gonna go try and win this game.”
Murphy led the offense with 138 rushing yards, setting a KSU record for most rushing yards in a home opener. His rushing put him over 1,000 for his career, which made him the seventh Owl ever to complete this feat.
After the Terriers’ first drive and the pick-six by Montgomery, the Owls were able to regain control of the lead for the rest of the game. The Owls went into the half with a 14-9 lead after holding the Terriers scoreless for more than 15 minutes of the first half.
The second half would start with a Murphy rushing touchdown, his second of the night. The Terriers couldn’t answer the quick score by the Owls putting them in a 21-9 hole. The Owls would end their scoring with a 35-yard field goal from Nathan Robertson.
Wofford was able to score an early touchdown in the fourth to cut the deficit down to just eight points. After a defensive stop, they were able to rush for another touchdown just moments later that tightened the margin to 24-22.
The two-point conversion attempt was intercepted by Demetric Barnes, the third of the game for the Owls. The Terriers would get another shot at a game-winning drive, but the Wofford quarterback was sacked to ice the game for the Owls.
The win gives the Owls a 1-2 record on the season and a 1-0 record at home.
The team will travel to Jacksonville State to face the Gamecocks for their first ASUN Conference matchup in school history on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2 PM.
