BOX SCORE (PDF)

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Chaston Bennett had another monster day with 223 total yards and three touchdowns, leading Kennesaw State to its third straight road win, 47-39, over Gardner-Webb Saturday at Spangler Stadium.
 
The senior reeled in a career-high 110 yards through the air, rushed for 76 yards and matched a career-high with three total touchdowns as KSU improved to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in Big South play with program's first-ever road victory in conference play. The Runnin' Bulldogs slipped to 3-5, 1-1.

"Anytime you can go on the road and win and win in the conference, it's big," said head coach Brian Bohannon. "Coming off a very emotional game last week at home, for our kids to come out and regroup and refocus and win the game is big for our program. It's only one game, but we celebrate it and it's time to move on to the next one."

 The Owls reached the end zone on each of their first seven possessions of the game, opening a 40-21 lead at the half and increasing it to 47-21 just two minutes into the third quarter when Bennett caught a 61-yard pass from Chandler Burks and sprinted down the sidelines for the score.
 
But the visitors had to hold off a late rally as Gardner-Webb scored three consecutive times to make it a one-score game with 12:12 left on the clock. Kennesaw State's defense stepped up to force a pair of fourth-down stops, the second coming with just 31 seconds left to put the victory on ice.
 
Burks finished 11-of-19 passing with 207 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 14 times for 72 yards. Jake McKenzie tacked on 68 yards rushing, while Darnell Holland and Sam Outlaw added rushing scores for the Owls.
 
Kennesaw State owned a 510-481 advantage in total yards, and the game's lone turnover was the Big South-leading sixth interception by Dante Blackmon. Following the interception, the Owls were in the end zone four plays later thanks to a 28-yard run by Bennett that made it 20-7 in the closing seconds of the first quarter.
 
Outlaw's first career touchdown made it 26-7 in the second quarter, and the Owls closed the half with an acrobatic TD catch in the back corner of the end zone from freshman Jordan Walker – the first of his career – on the half's final play.

Tyrell Maxwwell single-handed kept Gardner-Webb in the game as the QB rushed 23 times for 122 yards and was 8-of-16 passing for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Khalil Lewis added 138 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
 
Anthony Gore led the defense with 12 tackles, while Izzy Sam chipped in 11.

The Owls remain on the road next Saturday at Monmouth. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. and is live on ESPN3.
 
POST-GAME #NESTNOTES
 
OFFENSIVE SHOWCASE
While the Runnin' Bulldogs entered the day holding opponents to a Big South-low 19.7 points per game, it was the Kennesaw State offense that torched GWU for 47 points and 510 yards. It was the third time this season KSU went for 500+ yards in a single game (3-0) and the fifth time in program history (5-0). The Owls lead the Big South Conference in total offense The Owls lead the Big South Conference in total offense (481.7).
 
RUNNIN' PAST THE BULLDOGS
Kennesaw State remains the lone Big South team to out-gain its opponents in each game this season after outgaining GWU 510-481. The Owls own a +830 total-yard margin, an average of +118.6 per game.

HAVE A DAY, CHASTON
Senior RB Chaston Bennett scored two rushing touchdowns and caught another to lead the offensive outburst. His three TDs tied a career high (Point, 2015) and he totaled 223 all-purpose yards a week removed from a career-high 241 all-purpose yards versus Liberty.

CB3 RUNNING THE SHOW
Sophomore QB Chandler Burks had his best game through the air as an Owl, completing 11-for-19 to eight different receivers for a career-high 207 yards and two touchdowns. His two scores in the air tied a career high. His 61-yard TD pass to Bennett in the third quarter was a career long pass. Burks has been responsible for a conference-leading 17 of the Owls' 37 touchdowns (nine rush, eight pass).
 
The X-FACTORS
The Owls got key contributions from some that the Runnin' Bulldogs may not have prepared for, as true freshman Sam Outlaw and sophomore WR Jordan Walker each scored their first career touchdowns, while senior quarterback Trey White scored his first touchdown since the opening game versus ETSU on Sept. 3.

DON'T PICK ON HIM
Senior defensive back Dante Blackmon entered the day ranked first in the Big South in total interceptions and added to his resume with his sixth of the season, picking off Tyrell Maxwell in the first quarter. The Owls have now scored points off nine of their 14 takeaways this season and have a points-off-turnover scoring advantage of 60-16.

-- #GoKSUOwls --