1 Kennesaw State is 4-1 this season.
The Owls are currently riding a 4 game win streak after opening the season with a 28-23 loss at Samford. Since then, KSU has defeated Tennessee Tech (27-14), Alabama State (20-14), North Greenville (38-34), and Texas Southern (48-3). North Greenville is a Division II program, and their 3 DI wins have come against teams who are a combined 0-16.
2 The Owls football program is in its 3rd season.
In their first 2 years they were 6-5 and 8-3, respectively. With Big South football defections from Coastal Carolina and now Liberty, the Owls are hoping to become the next Big South football power. Kennesaw was the preseason selection to win the conference title, tying with Charleston Southern with the preseason honors. In their first 3 seasons, the Owls are 18-9 overall.
“Brian Bohanon has done a fantastic job,” Coach Gill said of KSU’s head coach. “They just started football there 3 years ago and they’ve done a great job.”
3 Liberty is 2-0 all-time against KSU.
The Flames have defeated the Owls each of the previous 2 seasons, including a 45-35 win in Lynchburg 2 seasons ago and a 36-21 win in Kennesaw last year. With Liberty making the move to the FBS ranks, the two programs are not scheduled to meet again in the near future.
4 QB Chandler Burks leads the Owls offensive attack.
He’s averaging 180 yards of total offense with 7 total touchdowns. He’s 4th in the Big South in rushing, averaging 75.4 yards per game while adding 4 touchdowns on the ground. He’s also 4th in the Big South in passing yards.
“It all evolves around the quarterback,” Liberty defensive coordinator Robert Wimberly said of Kennesaw State’s offense. “I’ve been very impressed with him, he executes the offense very well. He understands the offense. He doesn’t make mistakes. Last year, when he got the starting role, we questioned that because they had a very experienced quarterback prior. After our game, we said, wow he’s really good. He stays in there with his reads. He does a great job when the outside defender turns his hips, he knows how to run right at him and then pitch that ball. He will take a lick and get back up. So, you can respect him and how he plays.”
5 The Owls have the top Big South defense.
Kennesaw State leads the conference in scoring defense (18.6), total defense (288.8), and rush defense (64.0). All of those numbers rank in the top 20 nationally and KSU is 6th in all of FCS against the run.
“They are faster than what they have been in the last year or two,” Gill said of KSU’s defense. “They’ve done a good job with their scheme. They do cause some confusion based on some teams I’ve seen them play.”
Redshirt-freshman Bryson Armstrong is leading the defense by stuffing the stat sheet in all categories. He has 47 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, and 1 blocked kick. The 5’11”, 200 pound linebacker from Marietta, Georgia ranks 3rd nationally with sacks per game and 12th in interceptions.
