GAME 6: Liberty (2-3) vs Kennesaw State (4-1)

Oct. 15, 2016 | Fifth Third Bank Stadium | 7 p.m. ET | HOMECOMING TV: ESPN3 RADIO: ESPN Radio 1230 The Fan 2 (WFOM-AM) KSU Notes | Liberty Notes | Live Stats | 2016 Record Book | Media Center Follow Along: @KennesawSTFB | #GoKSUOwls

• Riding a four-game winning streak, Kennesaw State welcomes Liberty Saturday night in the Big South Conference opener for both teams. The Owls are looking to win their conference opener for the second straight year.
• The Owls were picked third in the Big South preseason poll, while the Flames were picked second. KSU ended its inaugural season in 2015 with a 2-4 conference mark and Liberty was 3-3. The Flames won a shootout over the Owls in last year's meeting in Lynchburg, 45-35.
• Kennesaw State enters Saturday's game leading in the Big South Conference in total offense (480.0 ypg), scoring offense (40.6 ppg) rushing offense (299.4 ypg), total defense (329.4 ypg) and rushing defense (94.2 ypg). Over the their four-game winning streak, the Owls are scoring an impressive 46.5 points per game and averaging 513.0 yards per game.
• The Owls rank sixth nationally in rushing yards per game and 10^th nationally in points per game.
• Kennesaw State and Liberty are ranked first and second in the Big South in both turnover margin and interceptions. The Owls are 6, while the Flames are 4. The Gold & Black have recorded nine interceptions this season – all coming over the last four games.
• Owls are now a 29 in points-off-turnover scoring (45-16) and have forced at least one turnover in 13 of their 16 games in program history. The team is 4-0 this season when forcing at least one turnover, and 9-4 all time.
• The last two weeks has seen sophomore QB Chandler Burks become the first signal-caller in Big South history to rush for three touchdowns in back-to-back games. Burks leads the Big South with 13 total touchdowns (eight rushing, five passing).
• Sophomore DE Desmond Johnson leads the Big South Conference with five sacks. All five have come over the last three games. Johnson is eighth in the nation in total sacks. He (6.5) and line-mate Tonarius Portress (7.0) lead the conference in tackles for loss.
• Senior DB Dante Blackmon was back on his island Saturday, registering his nation-leading fifth interception of the season. Blackmon also leads the FCS in passes defended per game (2.2).
• Although sophomore WR Justin Sumpter missed last week's game with an injury, he still leads the Big South in receiving yards per game (117.0) and in receiving touchdowns (six).

WINNERS OF FOUR STRAIGHT

• Kennesaw State's 49-16 victory over Missouri S&T gave the Owls their first four-game winning streak in program history. 
• During the streak, KSU has outscored its opponents 186-74, averaging 46.5 points per game and 513 yards over that span. 
• In fact, Kennesaw State has outscored its opponents 45-15 in the fourth quarter over the last four games and shutout Missouri S&T in the entire second half – marking the third time in program history the defense has thrown up zeros over the final 30 minutes of action.
• The Owls have also jumped out to a quick start during the four-game winning streak, outscoring opponents by a dominating 55-14 spread in the first quarter and a 114-50 disparity over the first half –Kennesaw State are 8-2 all-time when leading at halftime. 
• Kennesaw State is an impressive 8/9 (89%) on fourth down conversions during the stretch and has converted 25/51 (49%) on third down, all helping a 92-69 first down difference with their opponents. 

MOVING THE CHAINS

• The Owls took advantage of a 37:05 to 22:55 disparity in time of possession for the game and moved the chains with 26 first downs last Saturday versus Missouri S&T.
• Kennesaw State fell six first downs of the school's record of 32 (Point, 2015) and won the first down battle with the Miners last Saturday, 26-11. 
• KSU also fell 1:35 shy of the school's mark of time of possession. 
• The team set a school record with four fourth-down conversions on five attempts, and improved to 8/9 (89%) on fourth down conversions during the four-game span. 
• The Owls rank 11th nationally and first in the Big South in fourth-down conversions (81.8%).
• Kennesaw State has converted 25/51 (49%) on third down, all helping a 92-69 first down difference over their opponents.
• KSU ranks 16th nationally and second in the Big South in third-down conversion (30.2%). 

TURNING THINGS OVER

• The defense pitched a second-half shutout for the second time this season (Point), and forced three more turnovers in the winning effort versus Missouri S&T.
• The Owls have forced 11 turnovers over the last three games and are plus-six in turnover margin for the season.
• Kennesaw State ranks seventh in the nation and first in the Big South in turnover margin (1.20) per game, and are a 29 in points-off-turnover scoring (45-16) in its first five games. 
• The Owls have forced at least one turnover in 13 of their 16 games in program history. The team is 4-0 this season when forcing at least one turnover, and 9-4 over the last two.
• Dante Blackmon, who ranks first in the nation in interceptions per game (1.00) and first in passes defended per game (2.2), picked off his fifth pass of the season, while Derrick Farrow (interception) and Dez Billingslea (fumble recovery) each recorded their first takeaways.

OWLS' HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE

• Kennesaw State's high-powered offense proved worth of its numbers once again last Saturday, rushing for 369 yards and nearly doubling up the Miners in total yards 471-248. 
• Through five games, the Owls rank sixth nationally and first in the Big South in rushing offense, totaling 299.4 yards per game on the ground. 
• 19 of the Owls' 28 touchdowns have been on the ground, helping KSU rank first in the Big South in touchdowns scored – four more clear of Charleston Southern's 24. 
• Kennesaw State is averaging 40.6 points per game through five games, ranking 10th in the nation and first in the Big South Conference.
• The Owls' 480 total yards of offense per game ranks eighth nationally and first in the Big South, as KSU put up 471 yards versus Missouri S&T last Saturday and have surpassed the 500-yard mark twice in 2016. 

DEFENSE FLEXING ITS MUSCLES 

• Kennesaw State's defense had another strong showing last Saturday versus Missouri S&T, holding the Miners to 16 points.
• It marked the third time this season the Owls have held an opponent to 20 points or less, and are allowing 21.8 points per game through five games. 
• The Owls' 21.8 points allowed per game ranks second in the Big South and 28th in the nation.
• Kennesaw State is holding opponents to 94.2 yards per game, which ranks 10th nationally and first in the Big South Conference. 
• The team ranks third in the league in sacks (10) and first in total defense (329.4). 
• The defense has allowed a league-low three rushing touchdowns, and the Owls are the only defense to allow less than 100 yards per game rushing.

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Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the signature athletics landmark on the Kennesaw State University campus, is a world-class facility that has been recognized as one of the premier multi-use outdoor athletics venues in the country. In the fall of 2015, it became the official home of Owls football team and is also home to Owls soccer and lacrosse.

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.

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