Season Schedule / Results
8/30 at Wake Forest (4-4) - L 3-31
9/13 vs. Illinois State (FCS) - W 13-7
9/27 vs. Ball State (3-3) - W 18-17
10/4 at Oregon State (3-5) - L 7-14
10/11 vs. Western Kentucky (6-1) - L 23-29
10/18 vs. UTEP (4-4) - L 13-27
10/25 at Florida International (1-5)
11/1 vs. Middle Tennessee (2-4)
11/8 at Jacksonville State (2-4)
11/15 at New Mexico State (1-5)
11/22 vs. Louisiana Tech (1-5)
11/29 at #15 Liberty (6-0)
Kennesaw State Edges FIU, 16-9, Behind Strong Defense and Special Teams
MIAMI, FL — The Kennesaw State Owls, led by three field goals from Austin Welch and a pivotal touchdown pass in the third quarter, held off FIU’s late push to secure a 16-9 victory on Saturday in a battle of two teams who came into today without a conference win.
Welch provided the Owls (3-4, 1-2 C-USA) with early momentum, nailing field goals from 49 and 41 yards to give Kennesaw State a 6-0 lead. FIU (1-6, 0-3 C-USA) responded just before halftime with a 39-yard field goal from Casey Longacre, cutting the Owls' advantage to 6-3.
The Owls came out strong in the second half, with Davis Bryson finding Blake Bohannon for a 39-yard touchdown pass, extending their lead to 13-3. Welch followed up with his third field goal of the game, a 45-yarder, to push the score to 16-3. FIU added field goals in the third and fourth quarters but could not reach the end zone against a determined Kennesaw State defense, and the Owls' offense was able to run out the clock in the fourth quarter to preserve the win.
Kennesaw State’s offense was balanced but struggled to establish a strong ground game, gaining only 109 rushing yards on 41 attempts. Fortunately, Davis Bryson had his best game of the season at quarterback and finished the day with 170 yards on 17-of-28 passing and a touchdown, with Bohannon’s 55 receiving yards on three catches providing the highlight.
“We executed well on special teams and played tough defense, which was the difference today,” head coach Lee Williamson noted. “But we need to clean up some things on offense to sustain drives and capitalize on our red zone opportunities. I liked how we were able to open up the passing game, at least.”
FIU’s Haden Carlson managed 163 passing yards but threw a crucial interception. Shomari Lawrence led the Golden Panthers’ ground game with 86 yards on 13 carries, though the Owls' defense stiffened in critical moments, forcing FIU to settle for three field goals.
Kennesaw State will look to build on the momentum from today's win when they host Middle Tennessee State next Saturday.
Kennesaw State Owls at Florida International Golden Panthers
Oct 25, 2025
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
SCORE
Kennesaw State Owls (3-4, 1-2)
3
3
10
0
16
Florida International Golden Panthers (1-6, 0-3)
0
3
3
3
9
Team Stats Comparison
KENN
FIU
Total Offense
279
276
Rushing Yards
109
113
Passing Yards
170
163
First Downs
16
14
Punt Return Yards
3
62
Kick Return Yards
58
0
Total Yards
340
338
Turnovers
0
1
3rd Down Conversion
8-19
3-13
4th Down Conversion
2-3
0-0
2-Point Conversion
0-0
0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
2-0-1
2-0-2
Penalties
3-23
4-39
Possession Time
26:16
13:44
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING
KENN
FIU
2:18
(KENN) Austin Welch, 49 yard field goal
3
0
SECOND QUARTER SCORING
KENN
FIU
9:24
(KENN) Austin Welch, 41 yard field goal
6
0
0:00
(FIU) Casey Longacre, 39 yard field goal
6
3
THIRD QUARTER SCORING
KENN
FIU
7:17
(KENN) Blake Bohannon, 39 yard pass from Davis Bryson
Middle Tennessee Storms Past Kennesaw State with Second-Half Surge, 35-10
KENNESAW, GA — The Kennesaw State Owls took an early lead but could not contain Middle Tennessee’s offense, falling 35-10 after the Blue Raiders dominated the second half on Saturday.
Kennesaw State (3-5, 1-3 C-USA) struck first, building off the momentum of their first conference win last week at Florida International, with DJ Scott finding the end zone on a 1-yard run late in the first quarter. Austin Welch added a 36-yard field goal to give the Owls a 10-0 advantage midway through the second quarter. However, Middle Tennessee (3-5, 3-1 C-USA) quickly closed the gap as Nicholas Vattiato connected with Tiger Bachmeier on a 36-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, cutting the Owls’ lead to 10-7.
The Blue Raiders took command in the third quarter, with Jaiden Credle scoring twice on runs of 10 and 14 yards, pushing Middle Tennessee to a 21-10 lead. Vattiato threw two more touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, first to Jacob Coleman and then to Omari Kelly, sealing the game. The Blue Raiders scored the final 35 points of the game.
"We started strong but lost control in the second half," Owls head coach Lee Williamson said. "We couldn't make the stops we needed, and we struggled to keep pace offensively. Definitely was a disappointment for us after our hot start.
The Owls' offense stalled after halftime, generating only 103 passing yards and struggling on the ground despite accumulating 149 rushing yards. Qua Ashley led Kennesaw State’s rushers with 45 yards, while Davis Bryson contributed 43 yards on 10 carries but managed just 11-of-22 passing with an interception.
Middle Tennessee's Vattiato was sharp, completing 21 of 29 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns. Credle added 94 yards and two scores on the ground, as the Blue Raiders outgained the Owls 414-252 in total offense.
Kennesaw State will look to get back on track at Jacksonville State next Saturday.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Kennesaw State Owls
Nov 1, 2025
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
SCORE
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (3-5, 3-1)
0
7
14
14
35
Kennesaw State Owls (3-5, 1-3)
7
3
0
0
10
Team Stats Comparison
MTU
KENN
Total Offense
414
252
Rushing Yards
128
149
Passing Yards
286
103
First Downs
26
15
Punt Return Yards
16
1
Kick Return Yards
0
18
Total Yards
430
271
Turnovers
0
1
3rd Down Conversion
7-9
7-13
4th Down Conversion
0-0
1-3
2-Point Conversion
0-0
0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
6-4-0
2-1-1
Penalties
1-10
4-35
Possession Time
21:35
18:25
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING
MTU
KENN
4:09
(KENN) DJ Scott, 1 yard run
0
7
SECOND QUARTER SCORING
MTU
KENN
2:47
(KENN) Austin Welch, 36 yard field goal
0
10
1:33
(MTU) Tiger Bachmeier, 36 yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato
7
10
THIRD QUARTER SCORING
MTU
KENN
6:31
(MTU) Jaiden Credle, 10 yard run
14
10
1:56
(MTU) Jaiden Credle, 14 yard run
21
10
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING
MTU
KENN
8:48
(MTU) Jacob Coleman, 2 yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato
28
10
2:49
(MTU) Omari Kelly, 3 yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato
Kennesaw State Holds Off Jacksonville State for 28-20 Road Win
JACKSONVILLE, AL — Behind a powerful ground game and timely defensive stops, the Kennesaw State Owls secured a 28-20 victory over Jacksonville State on Saturday, overcoming a late push by the Gamecocks.
Kennesaw State (4-5, 2-3 C-USA) struck early, with Qua Ashley opening the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Ashley added another touchdown on a 5-yard run early in the second, pushing the Owls to a 14-0 lead before Jacksonville State rallied with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Tate Rodemaker to Jordan McCants, followed by a Garrison Rippa 24-yard field goal, cutting the lead to 14-10 at halftime.
Jacksonville State briefly took control in the third quarter when Rodemaker connected with Michael Pettway on a 52-yard strike against a Kennesaw State all-out blitz on third down, putting the Gamecocks ahead 17-14. Kennesaw State responded quickly, though, with Davis Bryson finding Gabriel Benyard for a 7-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead at 21-17 and cut off the Gamecocks' 17 unanswered points run.
Qua Ashley’s third touchdown run, a 4-yard effort in the fourth quarter, extended the Owls’ lead to 28-17. Jacksonville State added a late 37-yard field goal from Garrison Rippa to cut the Kennesaw State lead to one score, but couldn’t close the gap further.
“Our offensive line paved the way today, and Qua [Ashley] ran hard,” Kennesaw State head coach Lee Williamson said. “We kept our focus, especially in the fourth quarter, and made the plays we needed to win.”
Ashley spearheaded the rushing attack, recording 116 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Ja’Vin Simpkins contributed 98 yards on 12 carries, helping Kennesaw State amass 254 rushing yards. Bryson completed 14 of 24 passes for 152 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He also contributed on the ground with 41 rushing yards.
Unfortunately, the Owls were also dealt bad news near the end of the game when Ashley was knocked out of the game with apparent broken ribs. Though medical tests will need to be done to confirm the diagnosis, it is likely he may miss the rest of the regular season, if the prognosis checks out.
Tate Rodemaker had a strong showing for Jacksonville State, throwing for 368 yards and two touchdowns, though he was intercepted twice by the Owls’ defense, including a backbreaking pick late in the fourth quarter on the Gamecocks' final drive of the game. Jacksonville State was also held to just 38 rushing yards as Kennesaw State’s defense clamped down on the ground game.
Next, Kennesaw State will face New Mexico State on the road.
Kennesaw State Owls at Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Nov 8, 2025
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
SCORE
Kennesaw State Owls (4-5, 2-3)
7
7
7
7
28
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (2-7, 0-5)
0
10
7
3
20
Team Stats Comparison
KENN
JVST
Total Offense
406
406
Rushing Yards
254
38
Passing Yards
152
368
First Downs
26
14
Punt Return Yards
5
17
Kick Return Yards
53
0
Total Yards
464
423
Turnovers
1
2
3rd Down Conversion
8-13
5-12
4th Down Conversion
1-1
2-2
2-Point Conversion
0-0
0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
4-4-0
5-0-1
Penalties
7-60
1-5
Possession Time
24:11
15:49
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING
KENN
JVST
4:42
(KENN) Qua Ashley, 4 yard run
7
0
SECOND QUARTER SCORING
KENN
JVST
9:28
(KENN) Qua Ashley, 5 yard run
14
0
3:26
(JVST) Jordan McCants, 25 yard pass from Tate Rodemaker
14
7
0:15
(JVST) Garrison Rippa, 24 yard field goal
14
10
THIRD QUARTER SCORING
KENN
JVST
8:20
(JVST) Michael Pettway, 52 yard pass from Tate Rodemaker
14
17
5:45
(KENN) Gabriel Benyard, 7 yard pass from Davis Bryson
Kennesaw State Stumbles Late in 14-7 Loss to New Mexico State
LAS CRUCES, NM — The Kennesaw State Owls were held scoreless through three quarters before a late surge came up short, resulting in a 14-7 loss to the New Mexico State Aggies on Saturday.
The Aggies (4-6, 3-3 C-USA) took an early lead with a booming 55-yard field goal from Freddy Joya in the first quarter, and he added a 22-yarder just before halftime, giving New Mexico State a 6-0 advantage at the break.
The game remained a defensive struggle until early in the fourth quarter when Parker Awad connected with Monte Watkins on a 5-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful two-point conversion to extend the lead to 14-0. Kennesaw State (4-6, 2-4 C-USA) responded with a determined drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Ja'Vin Simpkins, trimming the deficit to 14-7 with just under four minutes left. However, New Mexico State’s defense stiffened, preserving their lead and sealing the victory.
“We fought hard to get back into it, but we just couldn’t find our rhythm early on,” Kennesaw State head coach Lee Williamson said. “Our defense gave us a chance, but we have to be better in capitalizing on those opportunities.”
Simpkins led the Owls’ ground attack with 97 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries with starting running back Qua Ashley out, while quarterback Davis Bryson added 57 rushing yards but was held to 117 yards through the air on 13-of-24 passing, along with an interception. Carson Kent led Kennesaw State receivers with 37 yards on two catches.
Parker Awad finished with 179 passing yards and a touchdown for New Mexico State, spreading the ball to eight different receivers, with Monte Watkins as his favorite target with six receptions for 37 yards.
The loss puts Kennesaw State in a precarious position with regards to their bowl hopes as they'll need to win their last two games to go bowling. They may have a decent shot at knocking off struggling Louisiana Tech next Saturday at home, but they finish the season in two weeks at undefeated and No. 11-ranked Liberty, a game in which they'll be heavy underdogs.
Kennesaw State Owls at New Mexico State Aggies
Nov 15, 2025
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
SCORE
Kennesaw State Owls (4-6, 2-4)
0
0
0
7
7
New Mexico State Aggies (4-6, 3-3)
3
3
0
8
14
Team Stats Comparison
KENN
NMSU
Total Offense
283
268
Rushing Yards
166
89
Passing Yards
117
179
First Downs
16
17
Punt Return Yards
15
29
Kick Return Yards
47
0
Total Yards
345
297
Turnovers
1
0
3rd Down Conversion
8-15
4-11
4th Down Conversion
0-2
0-0
2-Point Conversion
0-0
1-1
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
2-1-0
2-1-1
Penalties
3-23
2-20
Possession Time
20:37
19:23
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING
KENN
NMSU
7:21
(NMSU) Freddy Joya, 55 yard field goal
0
3
SECOND QUARTER SCORING
KENN
NMSU
0:11
(NMSU) Freddy Joya, 22 yard field goal
0
6
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING
KENN
NMSU
7:54
(NMSU) Monte Watkins, 5 yard pass from Parker Awad (2-Pt)
Owls Fall on Senior Day, Eliminated from Bowl Contention in 42-21 Loss to Louisiana Tech
KENNESAW, GA — In a disheartening end to their home season, Kennesaw State was unable to secure a win for their seniors on Senior Day, falling 42-21 to Louisiana Tech. The loss not only dashed the Owls' bowl hopes but also marked a winless home conference record for the season, as they went 0-4 in league games at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
The game’s turning point came midway through the third quarter, when a mishandled option pitch by quarterback Davis Bryson was scooped up by Louisiana Tech’s BJ Blake, who returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. The defensive score widened the Bulldogs' lead to 28-13 and shifted the game’s momentum firmly out of the Owls’ reach.
“That was a tough play to swallow,” head coach Lee Williamson admitted. “It’s painful to see it on Senior Day, but we just didn’t make the plays we needed to at critical times.”
Davis Bryson, who threw for a career-high 245 yards and a touchdown on 31-of-45, also career-high marks, passing, also had a late interception returned 59 yards for another Louisiana Tech (3-8, 2-5 C-USA) touchdown by George Okereke. These two defensive touchdowns overshadowed an otherwise productive day for Kennesaw State (4-7, 2-5 C-USA), which outgained Louisiana Tech with 417 yards of total offense to the Bulldogs’ 412.
Ja'Vin Simpkins provided a spark in the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Owls a brief 10-7 lead. However, Louisiana Tech responded quickly with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Evan Bullock to Dedrick Latulas, who finished with 133 receiving yards, helping the Bulldogs regain control.
With the loss, Kennesaw State closes its conference home slate without a single victory, a disappointing outcome for a team aiming to establish a strong presence in league play.
“It’s not the Senior Day we wanted, especially at home,” Bryson said. “We wanted to get that win, but the mistakes hurt us.”
Kennesaw State will wrap up their season on the road next week against a top 25-ranked Liberty squad, looking to avoid ending the season on a three-game losing streak.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Kennesaw State Owls
Nov 22, 2025
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
SCORE
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (3-8, 2-5)
7
7
14
14
42
Kennesaw State Owls (4-7, 2-5)
3
10
0
8
21
Team Stats Comparison
LT
KENN
Total Offense
412
417
Rushing Yards
68
172
Passing Yards
344
245
First Downs
15
25
Punt Return Yards
22
6
Kick Return Yards
0
54
Total Yards
434
477
Turnovers
1
2
3rd Down Conversion
6-13
8-20
4th Down Conversion
0-1
2-4
2-Point Conversion
0-0
1-1
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
7-3-0
3-2-1
Penalties
4-35
3-21
Possession Time
15:58
24:02
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING
LT
KENN
6:35
(KENN) Austin Welch, 42 yard field goal
0
3
0:26
(LT) Fred Robertson, 15 yard run
7
3
SECOND QUARTER SCORING
LT
KENN
3:36
(KENN) Ja'Vin Simpkins, 1 yard run
7
10
3:28
(LT) Dedrick Latulas, 75 yard pass from Evan Bullock
14
10
0:10
(KENN) Austin Welch, 37 yard field goal
14
13
THIRD QUARTER SCORING
LT
KENN
7:42
(LT) Marlion Jackson, 10 yard pass from Evan Bullock
21
13
5:33
(LT) BJ Blake, returned fumble 65 yards
28
13
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING
LT
KENN
8:15
(LT) Evan Bullock, 1 yard run
35
13
3:55
(KENN) DJ Scott, 8 yard pass from Davis Bryson (2-Pt)
35
21
2:28
(LT) George Okereke, returned interception 59 yards
No. 20 Liberty Outlasts Kennesaw State 23-6 in Season Finale
LYNCHBURG, VA — Kennesaw State’s season concluded with a hard-fought but ultimately disappointing 23-6 loss to No. 20 Liberty on Saturday, as the Owls struggled to overcome the Flames’ aerial assault and big plays.
Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter orchestrated an effective passing attack, finishing with 327 yards and two touchdowns. Reese Smith led the charge for the Flames (11-1, 7-1 C-USA), catching both of Salter’s touchdown passes, including a game-breaking 82-yarder early in the fourth quarter. The long touchdown stretched Liberty’s lead from seven to fourteen, putting the Owls in a deficit they could not overcome.
“We knew we had to limit their big plays to keep it close, but that long score really took the wind out of us,” said Kennesaw State (4-8, 2-6 C-USA) head coach Lee Williamson.
Despite the loss, the Owls were able to find some success on the ground. Quarterback Davis Bryson scrambled for 74 yards on 12 carries, while Ja'Vin Simpkins added 42 yards on the ground. However, Liberty’s defense tightened when it mattered, limiting the Owls to just two field goals by Austin Welch, one from 41 yards in the second quarter and another from 44 yards early in the fourth.
Kennesaw State’s passing game struggled against the Flames’ secondary, with Davis Bryson completing 17 of 30 attempts for 133 yards and an interception. Gabriel Benyard led all Owls’ receivers with 41 yards on four catches.
Liberty’s defense, ranked among the top in the conference, showed its mettle by keeping Kennesaw State out of the end zone all night. With the loss, Kennesaw State ends its season with a 4-8 record, a one game improvement over last year's showing, falling short of a bowl appearance after several competitive showings.
“Not the ending we hoped for, but these guys fought every game,” Williamson reflected. “It’s a young team, and there’s a lot to look forward to. We’ll come back stronger next year.”
Kennesaw State Owls at Liberty Flames
Nov 29, 2025
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
SCORE
Kennesaw State Owls (4-8, 2-6)
0
3
0
3
6
#20 Liberty Flames (11-1, 7-1)
7
3
3
10
23
Team Stats Comparison
KENN
LIB
Total Offense
258
382
Rushing Yards
125
55
Passing Yards
133
327
First Downs
17
19
Punt Return Yards
29
7
Kick Return Yards
89
38
Total Yards
376
427
Turnovers
1
1
3rd Down Conversion
5-16
3-10
4th Down Conversion
2-4
0-1
2-Point Conversion
0-0
0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
1-0-0
4-1-1
Penalties
0-0
4-40
Possession Time
22:28
17:32
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING
KENN
LIB
1:54
(LIB) Reese Smith, 5 yard pass from Kaidon Salter
0
7
SECOND QUARTER SCORING
KENN
LIB
6:04
(KENN) Austin Welch, 41 yard field goal
3
7
0:06
(LIB) Nick Brown, 52 yard field goal
3
10
THIRD QUARTER SCORING
KENN
LIB
1:07
(LIB) Nick Brown, 40 yard field goal
3
13
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING
KENN
LIB
7:36
(KENN) Austin Welch, 44 yard field goal
6
13
7:24
(LIB) Reese Smith, 82 yard pass from Kaidon Salter
#5 LSU vs. #12 Tulane - #4 Wisconsin will play the winner
#8 Oregon vs. #9 Arkansas - #1 Alabama will play the winner
#6 Pittsburgh vs. #11 Ohio State - #3 Liberty will play the winner
#7 Florida vs. #10 Texas - #2 NC State will play the winner
2025 College Football Award Winners
Award Winners
Heisman: Avery Johnson - QB - Oregon
Player of the Year: Avery Johnson - QB - Oregon
Head Coach of the Year: Jamey Chadwell - HC - Liberty
Best Quarterback: Avery Johnson - QB - Oregon
Best Defensive Player: Rueben Bain Jr. - RE - Miami
Best Defensive Back: Keon Sabb - FS - Alabama
Best Running Back: Bill Jackson - HB - Tulsa
Best Receiver: Dacari Collins - WR - NC State
Lombardi Award: Rueben Bain Jr. - RE - Miami
Unitas Golden Arm Award: Cade Klubnik - QB - Clemson
Best Defensive End: Rueben Bain Jr. - RE - Miami
Best Interior Lineman: Dylan Fairchild - LG - Georgia
Best Tight End: Mason Taylor - TE - LSU
Broyles Award: Victor Cotterill - DC - Liberty
Best Linebacker: Jihaad Campbell - MLB - Alabama
Best Center: Lyndon Cooper - C - Pittsburgh
Lou Groza Award: Laith Marjan - K - South Alabama
Best Punter: Marshall Nichols - P - UNLV
Best Returner: Nate Frazier - HB - Georgia
11-25-2024, 02:42 AM
