Quarterbacks #5 Dexter Williams II, #2 Amari Odom, #14 Tommy Ulatowski huddle before a play. Photo by: Jackson Louneoubonh
Kennesaw State football will look to win its seventh straight, making its longest road trip of the season to face New Mexico State on Saturday.
With the arrival of November comes a crucial final stretch for Owls football. Currently sitting at 6-2 overall, 4-0 in Conference USA play, KSU is in control of its own destiny to not only make the CUSA championship game, but host it.
With a road showdown against fellow conference unbeaten Jacksonville State looming on Nov. 15, the Owls will first have to get through a reeling New Mexico State.
“Nobody is really going to care about being bowl eligible if we drop these next few games in a row,” KSU coach Jerry Mack said. “We want to continue to keep the momentum high; we want to continue to keep these guys focused. We know we have one goal accomplished, which is great, but more than anything else, we have to find a way to get one more point than [NMSU] this upcoming week.”
The Aggies sit at 3-5 overall, 1-4 in CUSA play and have lost five of their last six contests following a 2-0 start. Their lone win over the stretch came against Sam Houston, one of two teams still winless at the FBS level.
Quarterback Logan Fife, who transferred to NMSU from Montana in the offseason, has been dreadful in his last two outings after a formidable start to the season. In the two starts, losses to Missouri State and Western Kentucky, Fife completed 35-of-73 passes for 317 yards, five interceptions and one touchdown.
The running game has been simply abysmal for the Aggies. Led by Kadarius Calloway in nearly every rushing category, NMSU averages just 2.4 yards per carry – 135th in the FBS – and has only scored five touchdowns on the ground all season.
Junior receiver Donovan Faupel has been the Aggies’ most effective offensive weapon this year, leading the team with 476 receiving yards and three touchdowns to this point, including a 10-reception day against Missouri State on Oct. 22.
NMSU’s biggest saving grace this season has been its secondary. Led by Naeten Mitchell with three, the Aggies have tallied 10 interceptions on the year and have forced at least one turnover in every game.
Nonetheless, NMSU has its back against the wall, still clinging to the possibility of reaching bowl eligibility. With a date with Tennessee in Knoxville just ahead on Nov. 15, the Aggies will in all likelihood have to upset the Owls in order to reach the six-win mark.
KSU reached bowl eligibility with a month to spare, now opening the door to greater possibilities.
“We talked a lot today in the building about 26 days left in the season,” Mack said. “[Over this] four-game stretch, we want to try to accomplish all our hopes and dreams by staying as focused as possible for these next 26 days.”
Mack gave a handful of injury updates during his weekly press conference this week, both negative and positive.
Tylon Dunlap, contrary to what was reported on ESPNU’s broadcast, will not be out for the remainder of the season. Offensive guard JT Pennington, one of the Owls’ most experienced starting offensive lineman is set to make the trip to Las Cruces despite sustaining an injury early against UTEP, but is doubtful to play.
Starting linebacker Garland Benyard has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with an Achilles, per his own Instagram account.
Kickoff is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
