Golden Eagles square off with Kennesaw State on Saturday
September 21, 2023

Golden Eagles square off with Kennesaw State on Saturday

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Ten years ago, Kennesaw State’s football program had never played a single game. Now, in the Owls’ ninth campaign and 95 games under their belt, the team is set to enter the Football Bowl Subdivision ranks as a member of Conference USA next season. For now, however, the Owls – with a 69-26 record in program history – compete as an independent in the Football Championship Subdivision and head to Tucker Stadium on Saturday for a matchup with the Golden Eagles. Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell will call the action on 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Metz will broadcast the game on ESPN+ (subscription required).

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By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Ten years ago, Kennesaw State's football program had never played a single game. Now, in the Owls' ninth campaign and 95 games under their belt, the team is set to enter the Football Bowl Subdivision ranks as a member of Conference USA next season.

For now, however, the Owls – with a 69-26 record in program history – compete as an independent in the Football Championship Subdivision and head to Tucker Stadium on Saturday for a matchup with the Golden Eagles.

Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell will call the action on 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Metz will broadcast the game on ESPN+ (subscription required).

With the independent season this year as the Owls are not joining their former Atlantic Sun Conference compatriots in the United Athletic Conference, Kennesaw State will have three bye weeks among their nine scheduled contests. After opening the year against Division II Tusculum with a 38-7 victory, KSU has dropped its last two games with a 27-20 defeat to Chattanooga and a 31-28 loss to Furman.

In addition to the Golden Eagles, Kennesaw State will also see Charleston Southern next week and go to Tennessee State the week after that to complete a three-game swing through the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association. Before the season concludes, the Owls will take on Lincoln University, an unaffiliated program out of California in their third season of play, as well as Sam Houston and Virginia-Lynchburg.

KSU's early program success has been impressive as the Owls hold a 37-14 record all-time against non-conference teams, though a 1-2 record this season has started to create some movement toward evening out that difference.

One thing the Owls have been able to do is create turnovers though. Last season, Kennesaw State finished fourth in the FCS in takeaways with 15 interceptions and 11 fumbles. KSU is currently ranked fifth this season. Among the top 10 in turnovers created last season? Furman, UT Martin and Gardner-Webb – all Tech opponents this season. The Golden Eagles saw Furman's prowess first-hand in the season opener as the Paladins created six turnovers.

The five turnovers last week – three interceptions and two fumbles – weren't helped by the rain-soaked conditions at Tucker Stadium as the Golden Eagles fell 20-7 against North Alabama this past Saturday. Between the two teams, just one offensive score was put on the board as both teams intercepted a pass for a touchdown and the Lions had two field goals.

The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, are still looking for their first rushing score of the season as Ethan Roberts threw a touchdown to Willie Miller against Furman and to Metrius Fleming at New Mexico. Last week saw Tech pull together 99 rushing yards and 197 passing yards for 296 total yards of offense – 37 more than North Alabama had in the game.

On the bright side, Kennesaw State is allowing an average of 370 yards of total offense per game – 139.3 on the ground and 230.7 through the air, just a shade lower than the Owls are picking up themselves with 160.3 on the ground and 246.0 on passing.

Tech enters the game with an 0-3 record against the Owls, but last season's meeting came heartbreakingly close to a Golden Eagle victory. After trailing by 14 points early, Hayden Olsen tied the game then gave Tech a 20-17 lead late in the third quarter with a pair of field goals. The Owls completed a 96-yard scoring drive to go back on top with Xavier Shepherd's 20-yard pass to Isaac Foster, giving KSU a 24-20 lead with 1:21 left.

The Golden Eagles countered as Tech needed five plays, including four passes from Jeremiah Oatsvall – a two-yard pass to Brad Clark, a 39-yard pass to Heath Price, a 19-yard pass to Fleming and an 18-yard pass to Miller for the touchdown. The PAT made it a 27-24 Tech lead with 27 seconds remaining in regulation.

Kennesaw State, however, just needed two plays to get into field goal range as the Owls hit a 40-yard try to send the game into overtime. Shepherd scored the game-winning touchdown there on a QB keeper to make it a 33-30 final.

While Shepherd isn't there this time around, Jonathan Murphy has proved to be no slouch as he set KSU single-game records last week against Furman in completions (17) and passing yards (308). The graduate QB has thrown for 708 yards and five touchdowns so far this season, completing 41 of 65 passes. He is also the Owls' leading rusher, chewing up 185 of KSU's 481 total yards. Gabriel Benyard is Kennesaw's top receiver, catching nine passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns.

On the defensive side, the Owls already have five interceptions on the season with Deontre Morris and JeRico Washington Jr. each with two, while KSU also has two fumble recoveries. Morris also leads the squad with 27 total tackles.

Ethan Roberts leads the Golden Eagles in passing with 424 yards, while Hayes Gibson had a solid game in relief against the Lions, throwing for 133 yards. Jayvian Allen leads the rushing attack with 121 yards, and Brad Clark leads the receivers with 224 yards. Aaron Swafford leads the defense with 25 tackles.

Tickets are on sale now – visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office, call (931) 372-3940 or visit TTUsports.com.

Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information