GAME 10: Kennesaw State (6-3, 2-2) at Coastal Carolina (8-1, 3-1)
DATE: Saturday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Brooks Stadium | Conway, S.C.
WATCH: Big South Network
LISTEN: Audio | Brian Giffin (PxP) | Tutan Reyes (Analyst) | Art Eckman (Sideline)
LINKS: Big South Network | Live Stats | Game Notes (KSU) | Game Notes (Coastal Carolina) | Twitter | #WitnessKSU
MEDIA: Media Center | Information Guide | Roster | Owls Insight Podcast
SERIES HISTORY: First Meeting
LAST MEETING: First Meeting

THIS WEEK: Kennesaw State makes the first of two straight road trips to conclude its inaugural season when it travels to Conway, S.C. to visit No. 4 Coastal Carolina at Brooks Stadium on Saturday (Nov. 14). Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. (ET).
 
WATCH LIVE: The Owls-Chanticleers game can be seen on the Big South Conference Network with Joe Cashion handling the play-by-play and Layne Harris providing analysis.
 
LISTEN LIVE: A live audio broadcast with Brian Giffin, Tutan Reyes and Art Eckman describing the action will also be available at KSUOwls.com.
 
NATIONAL POLLS: For the first time in three weeks, Kennesaw State does not appear in the current STATS FCS Poll. The Owls, who received a program-high five votes a week ago, was not among teams receiving votes following Saturday's 28-14 loss to No. 15 Charleston Southern.
 
Coastal Carolina, who spent seven weeks ranked No. 1 in the FCS Coaches Poll, is currently No. 4 in both polls. The Chanticleers represent the highest-ranked opponent KSU has played.  
 
PROTECTING THE NEST: Kennesaw State was successful in protecting its home field during its inaugural season. The Owls went 5-1 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium with their lone loss coming on Saturday (Nov. 7) when they fell 28-14 to No. 13/15 Charleston Southern.
 
ATOP THE PERCH: With the exception of the first season of Big South football in 2002, Kennesaw State's six wins are tied for the most by a program in its first season in the Big South. The Owls have clinched a winning season in their first year of existence, and join Coastal Carolina (2003), VMI (2003) and Monmouth (2014), who all won six games during their respective inaugural seasons in the Big South.
 
SETTING A STANDARD: KSU became the first newcomer to the league to win its first-ever conference game when the Owls defeated Gardner-Webb, 12-7, on Oct. 17. When including 2002, KSU is just the second team on the list, as GWU won its debut Big South game.
 
A Look Ahead: The Owls will wrap up their 2015 season when they travel to Clinton, S.C. to take on Presbyterian at Bailey Memorial Stadium at 2 p.m. 
 
SCOUTING COASTAL CAROLINA
• Coastal Carolina represents the second consecutive nationally-ranked opponent Kennesaw State will play after the Owls hosted No. 13/15 Charleston Southern on Saturday (Nov. 7). The Chanticleers are No. 4 in both the FCS Coaches poll and STATS FCS rankings.       
• Coastal Carolina is 8-1 overall and 3-1 in Big South Conference action after defeating Gardner-Webb, 46-0, on Saturday. 
• The Chanticleers enter this week leading the Big South Conference in scoring offense (35.2), total offense (444.8), second in passing offense (242.3) and third in rushing offense (202.4).
• Defensively, Coastal Carolina is second in the Big South in scoring defense (18.1 ppg.), seventh in total defense (399.4 ypg.), fifth in rushing defense (160.3) and seventh in pass defense (239.1).
• The Chanticleers' offense is led Big South Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Alex Ross who is completing 173 of 256 passes for 2,007 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. His completion percentage of 67.6 ranks sixth in the FCS and leads the Big South.
• The Coastal Carolina offense boasts five players who were named preseason all-conference, including redshirt-junior running back De'Angelo Henderson, who leads the Big South with 1,053 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns and 1,353 all-purpose yards.
• RB De'Angelo Henderson owns the FCS record for consecutive games with a touchdown at 23. He surpassed the previous mark of 20 that was held by Monmouth's David Sinsi from 2006-07 in Week 8 at Monmouth.
• Defensively, junior linebacker Alex Scearce and junior defensive tackle Jabarai Bothwell lead the Chanticleers' offense. Scearce tops the team with 57 tackles, while Bothwell has 46 tackles, including six for loss.
• Head coach Joe Moglia is in his fourth season at Coastal Carolina and has guided the Chanticleers to a 40-11 record.
 
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN REVIEW  
• The Owls suffered their first home loss, falling 28-14 to No. 13/15 Charleston Southern.
• Kennesaw State was held to season-low numbers of 302 total yards and 113 rushing yards.
• S Taylor Henkle had KSU season single-game high two interceptions and 10 solo tackles to lead the defense.
• KSU opened the game with a season-long 79-yard TD completion from QB Trey White to RB Chaston Bennett on the first play from scrimmage.
• CSU scored 21 unanswered to take a 21-6 halftime lead and scored on its opening possession of the second half to increase its lead to 28-6
• QB Jake McKenzie scored a 1-yard run with 9:54 remaining to cap a 6-play, 83-yard drive.
 
TAYLOR HENKLE REPEATS AS BIG SOUTH FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Redshirt freshman Taylor Henkle earned Big South Conference Freshman of the Week (Nov. 9) honors for the second week in a row after recording 10 solo tackles and intercepting two passes versus Charleston Southern on Saturday (Nov. 7). He was also recognized by the conference a week ago after recording nine solo tackles, two pass breakups and a late-game interception that sealed a 23-13 Big South Conference win over Monmouth (Oct. 31).
 
DERRICK FARROW NAMED TO CFPA FCS WATCH LIST: Kennesaw State junior Derrick Farrow was one of 32 defensive backs named to the 2015 FCS Defensive Awards Watch List, the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) announced on Wednesday (Nov. 4). The list includes 32 defensive backs, 32 linebackers, and 34 defensive linemen from the Football Championship Subdivision. All FCS players are eligible for awards at their respective positions, and are not preemptively eliminated from consideration. The award winners will be announced January 13, 2016.
 
DEBUT PROGRAMS IN 2015: Kennesaw State is one of four institutions who have debuted football in 2015. Along with the Owls, East Tennessee State (FCS), Finlandia University (Division III), located in Hancock, Mich. and Lyon College (NAIA) in Batesville, Ark. started football programs this fall. The Owls are 6-3, while East Tennessee State is 1-8, while Finlandia is 3-6 and Lyon College is 0-10.
 
WINNING MENTALITY: Kennesaw State immediately fostered a winning mentality and clinching a winning season. The Owls are 6-3 on the season and the mark ranks as the second-best nine-game start in an inaugural season since 2008. Mercer, which played in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League, and Old Dominion, which competed as an FCS Independent, both began 7-2 in 2013 and 2009, respectively.
 
ONE FOR THE BOOKS: Kennesaw State set the Big South single-game record for total offense with 699 yards versus Point (Oct. 10), bettering the old mark of 695 set by Charleston Southern vs. West Virginia Wesleyan in 2015. KSU amassed 391 rushing yards and 308 passing yards, becoming just the second team in Big South history with 300 rushing and 300 passing yards in the same game. The first was Coastal Carolina in 2006 against Gardner-Webb (332 rush, 306 pass).
 
GROUND FORCE
• Kennesaw State leads the Big South with 299.2 rushing yards per game, currently the second-highest per game average in league history.
• The Owls are seeking to become just the second Big South team to average 300 rushing yards a game, and trail the single-season record of 357.5 rushing yards per contest set by VMI in 2008.
• KSU is on pace for 3,291 rushing yards this season, which would be the fifth-highest single-season total in Big South history.
• The Owls have rushed for more than 300 yards in a game five times this season; the conference record for most 300-yard rushing games is eight (VMI - 2008).
 
WHITE WHIMS
• With 809 yards rushing and 1,022 yards passing, QB Trey White is on the verge of becoming the Big South Conference's first 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard passer.
• White is the first QB in Big South history to rush for three touchdowns in a game twice in the same season (Week 2 vs. Edwards Waters and Week 8 at Liberty). His nine rushing scores this season are tied for second-most in a season by a Big South QB and three away from tying the league single-season mark of 12 (VMI's Tim Maypray in 2008).
• White is just the second quarterback in Big South history to record a 3-TD rush game and 3-TD pass game in the same season, joining Coastal Carolina's Tyler Thigpen, who achieved the feat in 2005.
• White is the Big South's top rushing quarterback this season with 809 yards (third overall).
 
JUST FOR KICKS: Freshman PK Justin Thompson tied the Big South single-game record with four field goals versus Gardner-Webb on Oct. 17. It was the second time this season Thompson made four
field goals in a game, previously accomplishing the feat versus Shorter (Sept. 19), becoming just the third kicker in league history with multiple 4-field goal efforts. Liberty's Matt Bevins did it a record four times in his career, while VMI's Matt Sharpe achieved it twice in 2003.
 
BIG PLAY J: Redshirt-freshman Justin Sumpter has shown a knack for coming up with big catches early in his first season. The Owls' WR has caught 23 pass for 475 yards and three touchdowns. He is currently averaging 20.7 yards a reception to rank seventh in the country in yards per reception. Sumpter has three catches of 46 or more yards, including a 69-yard TD reception in the inaugural game at East Tennessee State.
 
National Team Rankings
• Kennesaw State ranks second in the FCS in third down conversion percentage (53.2 percent), first in yards per pass completion (19.55), sacks allowed (0.25), fourth in rushing offense (299.2) and 18th in time of possession (32.51).
• Defensively, the Owls are fifth in the FCS in passing yards allowed (145.1) and 13th in total defense (297.2).
 
Team Notes
• Kennesaw State is the only FCS program since 2008 to score 50-plus points in each of its first two games (56 at East Tennessee State, 58 versus Edward Waters)
• The 56 points scored by the Owls in their opener at East Tennessee State are the most scored by a debuting Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program dating back to 2008, and the 40-point margin of victory is the second largest during that time.
• Kennesaw State is the sixth different program to win its first game as a member of the Big South Conference
 
Quick Strike Offense
• The Owls have scored on the first drive in six of their nine games, scoring five touchdowns and making a field goal. KSU was held without a score on its first possession versus Gardner-Webb (Oct. 17) and Monmouth (Oct. 31).
• KSU has scored on its first offensive play of a game three times. QB Trey White and WR Justin Sumpter hooked up on 55-yard scoring play versus Edward Waters (Sept. 12), RB Chaston Bennett ran 80 yards for a TD on KSU's opening play from scrimmage at Dayton (Sept. 26) and White hooked up with Bennett on a 79-yard pass play to open the game versus Charleston Southern (Nov. 7).
 
Ball Hawks
• The Owls' defense has forced at least one turnover in seven of nine games this season.
• Kennesaw State has scored a defensive (3) or special teams (1) touchdown in three times this season (at ETSU, vs. Edward Waters, vs. Shorter).
 
Scoring Fraternity
• Thirteen different players have scored a touchdown for the Owls this season. Junior QB Trey White leads KSU nine touchdowns.
 
First and Third
• The Kennesaw State defense has been dominant in the first and third quarters of games this season. The Owls have allowed a total of 31 points (3.4) in the first quarter and 21 points (2.3) in the third quarter through nine games.
• KSU has held its opponents scoreless in the first quarter in four of nine games. Even better, the Owls have blanked their opponent in seven of nine games in the third quarter.
• The Oct. 17 game versus Gardner-Webb marked the first time this season that KSU has held an opponent scoreless in the first half.
• The only scores in the third quarter against Kennesaw State were touchdowns by Dayton (Sept. 26), Liberty (Oct. 24) and Charleston Southern (Nov. 7).
 
Opening Act
• The Owls are averaging 19.5 points in the first half through their first nine games, while their defense is surrendering just 11.8 points in the first half and 7.6 points in the second half.
• KSU is outscoring its opponents 176-106 in the first half and 123-69 in the second half. Overall, the Owls have outscored their opponents, 299-174.
 
Stopping the Run
• Kennesaw State has held eight of its nine opponents to under 200 rushing yards, and two teams have failed to gain 100 yards rushing.
 
Air Defense
• Seven different players have intercepted a pass for Kennesaw State, including Taylor Henkle, who has to lead the Big South Conference and rank 16th in the FCS.
• KSU's defense has four times recorded two interceptions in a game (at ETSU, at Dayton, versus Monmouth and Charleston Southern)
• The defense has also twice recorded four sacks in a game (Shorter, at Dayton) and has at least one sack in eight of nine games.
 
WINNING RETURNS: KSU has four TD returns by its defense and special teams. When redshirt freshman LB Dez Billingslea returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game against Shorter (Sept. 19), it was the third of the season for the Owls and tied a Big South Conference single-season record. 
 
A NIGHT OF FIRSTS: The Owl's 56-16 win over East Tennessee State on Sept. 3 marked a night of firsts in the history of the Kennesaw State football program. Here is a list of a few of the firsts:
 
• First Offensive Play: Trey White 4-yard rush
• First Touchdown: Trey White 6-yard run (1st quarter)
• First Passing Touchdown: White 69 yards to Justin Sumpter (3rd quarter)
• First Defensive Tackle: Taylor Henkle (1st quarter)
• First Defensive Touchdown: Nick Perrotta 19-yard INT return (2nd quarter)
 
INAUGURAL GAME OFFENSIVE NOTES:
• Kennesaw State had five touchdown drives of 50 or more yards, including four of 65 yards or more
• The 56 points are the most scored by a debuting FCS program dating back to 2008, and the 40-point win is the second largest during that same time period. KSU is one of just two teams to open against another FCS program among 10 institutions that have started a program. Charlotte, which debuted as an FCS program and has since moved to the FBS level, defeated Campbell, 52-7, in 2013.
• The 56 points by the Owls tied for the fifth most scored in FCS play during the opening weekend and led Big South Conference teams
• The 512 total yards gained led Big South Conference teams and KSU's 416 yards rushing were the third-highest total nationally
 
INAUGURAL DEFENSIVE GAME NOTES:
• Redshirt junior defensive lineman Nick Perrotta had a game-changing 19-yard interception return for a TD late in the second quarter that gave the Owls a 21-13 lead. He finished with four tackles, including two for loss.
• Kennesaw State limited ETSU to 98 rushing yards (2.6 yards per carry)
• Redshirt senior defensive lineman Mason Harris tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including three for loss and a sack for 10 yards. He also had two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
• Redshirt freshman Taylor Henkle tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including one for loss, and had a pass breakup. He also recorded the first defensive tackle in program history.
• Redshirt defensive back Dante' Blackmon had four tackles and returned an interception 23 yards.
 
SMASHING DEBUT: Kennesaw State is the sixth different program to win its first game as members of the Big South Conference, joining Gardner-Webb and Elon in 2002, Coastal Carolina in 2003, Stony Brook in 2008 and Monmouth in 2014. Meanwhile, the Owls' 56 points at East Tennessee State was the most scored by a Big South member in a season opener against an FCS opponent, and the fourth-most points scored overall in an opening game of a season since the league's formation in 2002.
 
OWLS FLY INTO BIG SOUTH RECORD BOOK: One game into its history, Kennesaw State immediately wrote itself into the Big South Conference record book. The Owls' 416 yards and six touchdowns rushing in their debut game against East Tennessee marked just the 10th time in league history that a football member gained at least 415 yards on the ground with six rushing TDs. The last to do it was Presbyterian on Sept. 6, 2014 against Bluefield (523/7). KSU's performance was just the fifth such effort against an FCS opponent.
 
THE SENIORS: The four seniors on the Kennesaw State roster include Brett Gillespie (OL, Kennesaw, Ga. / North Greenville), Ryan Godhigh (RB, Acworth, Ga. / Harrison HS), Mason Harris (DL, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. / South Carolina) and Prentice Stone (Marietta, Ga. / Eastern Kentucky). 
 
TRYOUT TO THE TWO-DEEP: A handful of players who took part in tryouts over the last year and a half, have made significant impressions on the coaching staff and earned their way onto the two-deep. Redshirt senior offensive lineman Brett Gillespie, redshirt junior defensive lineman Nick Perrotta, redshirt sophomore linebacker Izzy Sam and redshirt senior Ryan Godhigh were part of the initial tryout on March 22, 2014. Additionally, redshirt senior PJ Stone (wide receiver) and redshirt freshman defensive back Shawn Reynolds have gone from tryout hopefuls to earning spots on the Owls two-deep.
 
LEADING THE WAY: Redshirt-freshman quarterback Chandler Burks (Douglasville, Ga. / South Paulding HS) was the first recruit to verbally commit and sign with Kennesaw State. He committed in in the summer of 2013 and signed an NLI on Feb. 5, 2014. Burks was one of 29 players who were part of the initial signing class.
 
KENNESAW STATE-ALABAMA STATE AGREE TO 4-YEAR SERIES:
Kennesaw State and Alabama State agreed to a four-year series that will run 2017 and run through 2020. The two teams will meet play at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in 2017 and 2019 and in Montgomery, Ala. in 2018 and 2020.   

Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium is the home of women's soccer, women's lacrosse and football.

Keep up with Kennesaw State Athletics by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook. You also can follow Kennesaw State football at @KennesawSTFB and The Owls fund on Twitter at @TheOwlsFund.