Also, I know it was a loss but great job holding that explosive Liberty offense to just 21 points. That's a win in itself
Yeah, I was also surprised we were able to hold Liberty to so few points. Too bad we didn't have the offense to make it matter, but it was a moral victory, at least. Definitely glad we got some Ws on the board. The coaching goals for my four-year contract with Kennesaw State is just to win four games per year, so it was nice to get a couple wins on the board this season. Obviously, hoping for more improvement in years 2 and 3, but I always knew it was going to be tough sledding this year.
Kennesaw State's Winning Streak Halted by Sam Houston in 30-16 Defeat
KENNESAW, GA — Kennesaw State’s two-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday as Sam Houston pulled away in the fourth quarter, claiming a 30-16 victory over the Owls. Despite a strong first half and a three-point lead going into the final quarter, Kennesaw State couldn’t hold off the Bearkats' late surge.
The Owls (2-8, 2-4 C-USA) held a 13-3 lead in the second quarter, fueled by a 4-yard touchdown run by quarterback Davis Bryson and two long-range field goals from Austin Welch, including a 53-yarder. But Sam Houston responded, with Hunter Watson connecting on two touchdown passes and Colby Sessums adding three field goals, giving the Bearkats the upper hand down the stretch. After the Owls took a 13-3 lead, Sam Houston outscored Kennesaw State 27-3, including scoring the last 20 points of the game.
Kennesaw State struggled with turnovers, as Davis Bryson threw two fourth quarter interceptions, and their offense stalled late in the game despite a strong showing on the ground, accumulating 183 rushing yards. Michael Benefield led the rushing attack with 73 yards on 12 carries, followed by Qua Ashley with 55 yards on 14 attempts.
“It’s tough when you’re so close for most of the game,” head coach Lee Williamson said. “But we missed some key opportunities, and against a team like Sam Houston, they’ll make you pay.”
Hunter Watson led the Bearkats with 300 passing yards, finding receivers Noah Smith and Ife Adeyi for critical touchdowns in the second half.
The loss keeps Kennesaw State winless at home on the season, but they'll get one more crack at it next week when they host Florida International on Senior Day.
Sam Houston State Bearkats at Kennesaw State Owls
Nov 16, 2024
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
SCORE
Sam Houston State Bearkats (2-8, 1-5)
3
0
10
17
30
Kennesaw State Owls (2-8, 2-4)
3
10
3
0
16
Team Stats Comparison
SHSU
KENN
Total Offense
351
329
Rushing Yards
51
183
Passing Yards
300
146
First Downs
15
21
Punt Return Yards
1
0
Kick Return Yards
0
35
Total Yards
352
364
Turnovers
0
2
3rd Down Conversion
5-11
10-17
4th Down Conversion
1-1
1-3
2-Point Conversion
0-0
0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
4-3-1
1-1-0
Penalties
3-30
5-45
Possession Time
17:27
22:33
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING
SHSU
KENN
5:35
(SHSU) Colby Sessums, 22 yard field goal
3
0
2:49
(KENN) Austin Welch, 53 yard field goal
3
3
SECOND QUARTER SCORING
SHSU
KENN
7:02
(KENN) Davis Bryson, 4 yard run
3
10
0:44
(KENN) Austin Welch, 42 yard field goal
3
13
THIRD QUARTER SCORING
SHSU
KENN
6:09
(SHSU) Ife Adeyi, 14 yard pass from Hunter Watson
10
13
2:18
(KENN) Austin Welch, 41 yard field goal
10
16
0:32
(SHSU) Colby Sessums, 47 yard field goal
13
16
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING
SHSU
KENN
5:20
(SHSU) DJ McKinney, 3 yard run
20
16
3:42
(SHSU) Noah Smith, 16 yard pass from Hunter Watson
Season Schedule / Results
8/31 at UTSA (6-4) - L 16-23
9/7 vs. Louisiana (5-5) - L 17-20
9/14 at San Jose State (8-2) - L 6-30
9/28 vs. UT Martin (FCS) - L 3-10
10/4 vs. Jacksonville State (4-6) - L 29-30 (OT)
10/15 at Middle Tennessee State (7-3) - L 17-24
10/23 vs. #24 Liberty (9-1) - L 9-21
10/30 at Western Kentucky (5-5) - W 38-31 (OT)
11/9 at UTEP (5-5) - W 24-17 (OT)
11/16 vs. Sam Houston (2-8) - L 16-30
11/23 vs. Florida International (5-5)
11/30 at Louisiana Tech (3-7)
Kennesaw State Rallies to Beat FIU in OT on Senior Day for First Home Win
KENNESAW, GA — The Kennesaw State Owls celebrated Senior Day with a thrilling 30-24 overtime victory against Florida International, marking their first home win of the season. After a fourth-quarter collapse, the Owls battled back in the extra period, capped off by Qua Ashley's game-winning 1-yard touchdown run.
The Owls (3-8, 3-4 C-USA) controlled the game early, building a 24-7 lead through three quarters behind strong performances from running back Michael Benefield, who scored on a 25-yard run, and quarterback Davis Bryson, who connected with Blake Bohannon for a 12-yard touchdown pass just before halftime. Austin Welch added a 46-yard field goal in the second quarter, while Qua Ashley’s 1-yard touchdown run in the third further extended the lead.
However, FIU (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) stormed back in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points. The Panthers tied the game with just 20 seconds remaining, sending it to overtime.
In the extra period, linebacker Baron Hopson came up big with a crucial interception in the end zone of FIU quarterback Keyone Jenkins. The turnover set up Kennesaw State’s offense, and Ashley delivered the game-winner with his second touchdown of the day.
“We showed a lot of heart today,” head coach Lee Williamson said. “It’s easy to get down after giving up a lead like that, but our seniors rallied the team, and Baron’s interception was the spark we needed. It's also great to finally get a win in front of the home crowd. This has been a long time coming for them.”
Kennesaw State’s defense forced three turnovers, a critical factor in their third win in four games after an 0-7 start.
Kennesaw State quarterback Davis Bryson played what might be his best game of the season, throwing for 197 yards and a touchdown and running for 58 yards with no turnovers. Michael Benefield led the Owls in rushing with 72 yards and a touchdown while Qua Ashley added 55 yards and two scores.
Keyone Jenkins threw for 288 yards, one touchdown, and one interception for Florida International and also ran for a second touchdown. Kejon Owens was the workhorse on the ground for FIU with 121 yards rushing on 17 carries.
The Owls will look to end the season on a high note next Saturday at Louisiana Tech in their season finale.
Florida International Golden Panthers at Kennesaw State Owls
Nov 23, 2024
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
OT
SCORE
Florida International Golden Panthers (5-6, 3-4)
7
0
0
17
0
24
Kennesaw State Owls (3-8, 3-4)
7
10
7
0
6
30
Team Stats Comparison
FIU
KENN
Total Offense
451
418
Rushing Yards
163
221
Passing Yards
288
197
First Downs
26
23
Punt Return Yards
1
0
Kick Return Yards
0
0
Total Yards
452
418
Turnovers
3
1
3rd Down Conversion
9-13
13-21
4th Down Conversion
0-0
4-5
2-Point Conversion
0-0
0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
5-3-0
4-3-0
Penalties
1-5
1-10
Possession Time
14:04
25:56
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING
FIU
KENN
4:37
(KENN) Michael Benefield, 25 yard run
0
7
1:54
(FIU) Shomari Lawrence, 2 yard run
7
7
SECOND QUARTER SCORING
FIU
KENN
3:04
(KENN) Austin Welch, 46 yard field goal
7
10
0:08
(KENN) Blake Bohannon, 12 yard pass from Davis Bryson
7
17
THIRD QUARTER SCORING
FIU
KENN
1:48
(KENN) Qua Ashley, 1 yard run
7
24
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING
FIU
KENN
8:50
(FIU) Ross Fournet, 5 yard pass from Keyone Jenkins
Kennesaw State Falls to Louisiana Tech 23-6 in Season Finale
RUSTON, LA — In a season-ending showdown, the Kennesaw State Owls fell 23-6 to Louisiana Tech. Despite a solid start, the Owls’ offense stalled after halftime, unable to find the end zone in a tough road matchup.
The Owls (3-9, 3-5 C-USA), who came into this game having won three of their last four games after being winless through their first seven games this season, struck first with a 27-yard field goal by Austin Welch in the first quarter, giving them an early 3-0 lead. Welch added another field goal from 47 yards out in the second quarter to make it 6-0. However, Louisiana Tech responded quickly, with Jack Turner hitting Shadeed Ahmed for a 75-yard touchdown pass on the next play, and Buck Buchanan’s 58-yard field goal before halftime put the Bulldogs ahead 10-6.
The Bulldogs extended their lead in the third quarter, with Buchanan nailing a 54-yard field goal and Turner connecting with Marquis Crosby for a 10-yard touchdown, pushing Louisiana Tech’s advantage to 20-6. Buchanan later added a 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, sealing the Owls’ fate. The Bulldogs scored the final 23 points of the game after initially trailing 6-0.
Kennesaw State’s offense was led by Qua Ashley, who rushed for 93 yards on 18 carries, while Michael Benefield added 64 yards on the ground. But quarterback Davis Bryson struggled, completing just 9 of 24 passes for 76 yards and an interception, as the Owls couldn’t generate momentum through the air.
“We fought hard, but we couldn’t capitalize on our chances today,” head coach Lee Williamson said. “This season had its ups and downs, but I’m proud of how our guys kept pushing through. We knew it was going to be tough in our first season as an FBS squad, and I think we showed marked improvement from the beginning of the season until the end, even if it didn't go how we wanted it to today.”
Jack Turner threw for 246 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception for Louisiana Tech. His top target was Shadeed Ahmed, who hauled in three catches for 91 yards, including the 75-yard second quarter touchdown. Donerio Davenport ran for 64 yards and Marquis Crosby added 57 yards rushing on just three attempts.
The Owls wrapped up their inaugural FBS season with a 3-9 record, showing resilience after an 0-7 start. The team heads into the offseason looking to build on their late-season improvements.
Kennesaw State Owls at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Nov 30, 2024
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
SCORE
Kennesaw State Owls (3-9, 3-5)
3
3
0
0
6
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (4-8, 3-5)
0
10
10
3
23
Team Stats Comparison
KENN
LT
Total Offense
282
365
Rushing Yards
206
119
Passing Yards
76
246
First Downs
16
17
Punt Return Yards
8
22
Kick Return Yards
49
18
Total Yards
339
405
Turnovers
1
1
3rd Down Conversion
5-14
5-11
4th Down Conversion
1-3
0-0
2-Point Conversion
0-0
0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
2-0-1
2-1-0
Penalties
3-25
1-5
Possession Time
19:31
20:29
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING
KENN
LT
5:41
(KENN) Austin Welch, 27 yard field goal
3
0
SECOND QUARTER SCORING
KENN
LT
9:26
(KENN) Austin Welch, 47 yard field goal
6
0
9:17
(LT) Shadeed Ahmed, 75 yard pass from Jack Turner
6
7
0:03
(LT) Buck Buchanan, 58 yard field goal
6
10
THIRD QUARTER SCORING
KENN
LT
6:30
(LT) Buck Buchanan, 54 yard field goal
6
13
1:10
(LT) Marquis Crosby, 10 yard pass from Jack Turner
#5 Miami (11-1) vs. #12 Texas State (11-2) - #4 Tulane (11-2) will play the winner
#8 Florida State (9-3) vs. #9 Kentucky (9-3) - #1 Ohio State (12-1) will play the winner
#6 Penn State (10-2) vs. #11 Notre Dame (9-3) - #3 Texas A&M will play the winner
#7 Alabama (10-3) vs. #10 Oregon (10-3) - #2 NC State (12-1) will play the winner
NOTE: No Big 12 representative.....I think because WVU isn't ranked and won the conference. I'm not sure if this is how it would work in real life; I think not?
2024 College Football Award Winners
Award Winners
Heisman: Will Howard - QB - Ohio State
Player of the Year: Will Howard - QB - Ohio State
Head Coach of the Year: Dave Doeren - HC - NC State
Best Quarterback: Will Howard - QB - Ohio State
Best Defensive Player: Jordan Burch - LE - Oregon
Best Defensive Back: Denzel Burke - CB - Ohio State
Best Running Back: Quinshon Jenkins - HB - Ohio State
Best Receiver: Brannon Spector - WR - Jacksonville State
Lombardi Award: Jordan Burch - LE - Oregon
Unitas Golden Arm Award: Will Howard - QB - Ohio State
Best Defensive End: Jordan Burch - LE - Oregon
Best Interior Lineman: Tate Ratledge - RG - Ohio State
Best Tight End: Gee Scott Jr. - TE - Ohio State
Broyles Award: Kim Cuturilo - OC NC State
Best Linebacker: Jeffrey Bassa - ROLB - Oregon
Best Center: Jake Slaughter - C - Florida
Lou Groza Award: Caden Davis - K - Ole Miss
Best Punter: Sam Vander Haar - P - BYU
Best Returner Braylin Presley - WR - Tulsa
I have had multiple playoffs in my Dynasty without the ACC Champ because they were not ranked in the Top-12 and a non-power school was ranked higher. So not sure on your about your Big 12 theory.. But I also switched up my conferences and added the Pac-12 back in with 14 teams too.
3 wins is a good building block. Hopefully you can land a couple playmakers in this year's class to help you get to 5-6 wins next year.. Also not a fan personally on how they coaching hiring is done but maybe as a small school not in the playoffs its fine but as a Coach who still wants to finish things out I don't like it. I rather it wait till the end of the year. I also don't like that Coach Scott gets bascially 3 HC opportunities every year yet 20-30 schools hire a new HC. Pretty sure every school would want a 7 time National Championship coach.
The new CFP format gives the 5 highest ranked conference winners automatic bids.
In your scenario Ohio State, NC State, Texas A&M, Tulane, and Texas State were the 5 auto bids. From there it is based on the rankings. If a team with an auto bid is ranked outside the top 12, then they are automatically the 12th seed in the playoffs which is why Texas St is the 12th seed even though they are ranked #23.
What would have really thrown your playoffs into bizzaro mode would be if Texas St had lost in their CCG. Then a non-top25 team would have gotten the 5th bid lol
11-17-2024, 05:12 PM
