FLORENCE, Ala. – In a game that came down to the wire, the No. 5 Kennesaw State football team pulled out a last-minute victory over the University of North Alabama Lions, 28-24. The Owls (9-1, 6-0 Big South Conference) scored a touchdown with 56 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to extend their win streak to eight games. The Owls have five road wins this season, which ties the school record for regular season road victories.
With only 2:37 left in the game, Kennesaw State trailed 24-21. Sophomore quarterback Xavier Shepherd led his second game-winning drive in the last three weeks to give the Owls a victory. The offense went 70 yards on eight plays and scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown by Shepherd with only 56 seconds left in the game. With the win, KSU moves to 2-0 all time against the Lions (2-8, 1-4).
After the Owls scored, sophomore corner Erwin Bryd put the game on ice with his second interception of the season. Byrd finished with five solo tackles, a sack, and the pick to give Kennesaw State its third 9-1 start in the last four full seasons.
Shepherd led the offense with 50 yards on 20 carries and complied three rushing touchdowns. The quarterback also went 5-of-10 passing with 95 yards and one touchdown. The passing touchdown was Shepherd's 14th of the season, which broke the Kennesaw State single-season record.
Kyle Glover was the top rusher for KSU and finished with 84 yards on 13 attempts. The senior had one carry go for 48 yards in the first quarter which marked the longest rush of his career. Glover also recorded one catch for 25 yards.
The KSU offense struggled to move the ball in the first quarter. On its third drive, Glover slipped up the middle for a 48-yard run to get the ball into Lion territory, but the offense was unable to capitalize after a turnover on downs. Glover's run accounted for 48 of the team's 56 yards in the first quarter.
The UNA offense got hot and scored on back-to-back drives in the first half, which put Kennesaw State down 14-0 in the second quarter. This was the Owls' largest deficit of the season against an FCS opponent and only the third time the team has trailed in 10 games this year.
Shepherd and the offense were able to get on the board on KSU's first possession of the second quarter. The offense put together a 13-play, 75-yard drive that moved the score to 14-7. Shepherd converted on a fourth-and-two to keep the drive alive and scored on a two-yard touchdown run the very next play.
Five plays after the KSU touchdown, junior safety Markeith Montgomery intercepted a pass and returned it 32-yards to the UNA 38-yard line. The offense capitalized on the field position and evened the score when Shepherd found Caleb O'Neal for a 27-yard touchdown pass. With the touchdown, KSU moves to 44-5 all-time when it scores inside the last three minutes of the first half.
The defense held UNA to 25 yards of total offense in the second quarter and recorded two sacks. Evan Thompson led the way with seven tackles (two solo) and one quarterback hurry. The linebacker finished with a team-high 13 stops. Desmond Scott also added two tackles (one solo), 0.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Kennesaw State entered the half tied with an FCS opponent for only the second time this season (Oct. 30 vs. Gardner-Webb). Prior to today's game, the team was 56-6 under Brian Bohannon when leading or tied through two quarters.
Shepherd would find the end zone late in the third quarter to give KSU its first lead of the contest. UNA forced a field goal attempt on fourth down, but an offside penalty gave the Owls a first down to extend the drive. On the next play, Shepherd forced his way into the end zone on a three-yard touchdown run.
The team is back in action for the Big South Championship next Saturday, Nov. 20 against Monmouth University. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Tickets are available for purchase by clicking here.
For more information on Kennesaw State athletics, follow @KennesawStFB on Twitter or like Kennesaw State Football on Facebook and Instagram.
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November 14, 2021 at 07:17AM
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Last-Minute Score Lifts Owls Over Lions - Kennesaw State Athletics
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