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LYNCHBURG, Va. –  Redshirt freshman RB Shaquil Terry and junior RB Jake McKenzie combined for 237 of Kennesaw State's school-record 498 rushing yards in leading Kennesaw State to a 42-28 victory over Liberty Saturday night at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Va. The win extends the Owls' winning streak to a school-record five games.
 
The Owls (5-1, 1-0 Big South) had to hold off a late Liberty (3-3, 0-1 Big South) rally that saw the Flames reel off 21 unanswered points to cut the deficit to 35-28 with 9:06 remaining. But, junior QB Chandler Burks -- who finished with 82 rushing yards on 20 carries and a touchdown -- led a key 12-play, 75-yard drive that milked 5:53 off the clock. The game was iced when McKenzie sprinted 30 yards for a touchdown with 3:13 left.

"It was a big win for us," said head coach Brian Bohannon. "To come on the road and beat Liberty it was huge. I was very proud when we lost momentum and were able to get it back and win the game. We are still a young football team and it was a big thing for us to go out and finish tonight." 
 
McKenzie gained 45 of his career-high 111 yards rushing on four key carries on the final drive. Terry finished with a career-high 126 yards on nine carries, including a 26-yard TD run that allowed the Owls to open a 21-7 lead in the second quarter.
 
Liberty took its opening possession of the game and marched 75 yards on 11 plays to seize a 7-0 lead when Carrington Mosley scored from a yard out. It was all Owls after that as the visitors scored a touchdown on four consecutive possessions to grab a 35-7 lead at the break.
 
Darnell Holland, who finished with 84 yards rushing had two of those scores, including a 63-yard jaunt. A highlight-reel, one-handed touchdown grab by junior WR Justin Sumpter came with one second on the clock before halftime made it 35-7.
 

The Owls out-gained the Flames 326-106 in the first half, including a 317-75 advantage on the ground.
 
The opportunistic Owls, who entered the game with the nation's third-most takeaways and second-most interceptions, accounted for two more takeaways – a Taylor Henkle interception and a Desmond Johnson fumble recovery. KSU scored touchdowns off both turnovers.
 
Kennesaw State finished the night with a 507-333 edge in total yards, including a 498-103 advantage in rushing. The Owls posted 26 first downs and held the ball for 38:38 – two seconds shy of the school record.
 
The Owls return to Fifth Third Bank Stadium next Saturday to welcome Big South Conference opponent Gardner-Webb. The tilt marks KSU's Homecoming affair in The Nest. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and can be seen live on ESPN3 or heard on ESPN Radio 1230 and 106.3 The Fan 2.
 
 
GAME NOTES

• The win over Liberty extends the Owls' winning streak to a school-record five games. It also represents the program's first win in three tries over Liberty.
• The Owls rushed for a school record 498 yards, surpassing the previous mark of 482 yards rushing at Monmouth last season. Tonight, the team was over 500 yards before taking a knee on the final three plays of the game to run out the clock.
• Shaquil Terry (126 yards, nine carries) and Jake McKenzie (111 yards, 18 carries) each set career highs in rushing. Terry scored on a 26-yard rush, while McKenzie iced the victory with a 30-yard TD run with 3:13 remaining.
• Terry has scored three TD's this season and is averaging 49.3 yards on those plays – a 26-yard rush tonight, 97-yard kick return last week and 25-yard rush at Alabama State.
• The Owls forced two turnovers in the win and finished with a 14-0 edge in points-off-turnover scoring. The team now has 17 takeaways this season and owns a 68-10 margin in points-off-turnover scoring.
• Kennesaw State entered the night T-2nd nationally in interceptions. The pick by Taylor Henkle in the second quarter was team's 12th. KSU has had at least one INT in every game.
• McKenzie Billingslea got his hand on a punt in the second quarter, to mark the Owls' third blocked kick this season (second blocked punt).
• The Owls were 3-for-3 for in the Red Zone tonight (3 touchdowns) and have scored points on each of their 19 Red Zone trips dating back to the season opener. Since last year's game versus Liberty, the Owls are 41 of 47 scoring in the Red Zone (33 TD, 8 FG).
• Zach Mitcher (RT) and Izzy Sam (LB) each made their 28th consecutive starts – they are the only two players to have started every game in program history.
• Tonight's captains: Chandler Burks, Shaquil Terry and Jace White