GAME 8: Kennesaw State (5-2, 1-1) at Monmouth (4-4, 0-3)

Oct. 29, 2016 | Kessler Field | 1 p.m. ET  TV: ESPN3 RADIO: ESPN Radio 1230 The Fan 2 (WFOM-AM) KSU Notes | Monmouth Notes | Live Stats | 2016 Record Book | Media Center Follow Along: @KennesawSTFB | #GoKSUOwls

 

• Winners of five of its last six games and riding a three-game road winning streak, Kennesaw State is coming off a 47-39 win at Gardner-Webb and battles Monmouth Saturday in West Long Branch, N.J.
• A win Saturday over the Hawks would extend the Owls' school-record road winning streak to four games and also mark the first time Kennesaw State has won consecutive Big South Conference games.
• When Kennesaw State and Monmouth met last season at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the Owls' 23-13 victory helped clinch a winning record in the program's inaugural season.
• The Owls enter the week leading the Big South in total offense (483.1 ypg; ranked fifth FCS), scoring (38.7; 11th FCS), rushing offense (295.3 ypg; fifth FCS), rushing TDs (26), passing efficiency (178.67; second FCS), completion percentage (61%) and turnover margin (+8; ninth FCS).
• Kennesaw State surpassed 500 yards of total offense in last Saturday's win at Gardner-Webb and is 3-0 this season (5-0 in program history) when surpassing the 500-yard mark.
• The Owls have out-gained every team this season and are winning the yardage battle by an average of 118.7 yards per game.
• Senior RB Chaston Bennett continues to emerge as a lethal all-around threat. Over the last three games, Bennett has 24 touches (18 rushes, six catches), amassed 378 yards from scrimmage (15.8 yards/play) and seven touchdowns.
• Sophomore QB Chandler Burks, who assumed the starting job after the Big South's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Trey White was injured in the opener, has not missed a beat. He enters the week leading the Big South in points responsible for (16) and is ranked second in both passing (eight) and rushing (nine) touchdowns.
• Since his only interception this season (at Duquesne), Burks has attempted a school-record 60 consecutive passes without throwing a pick.
• Senior DB Dante Blackmon recorded his FCS-leading sixth interception in last week's win at Gardner-Webb. Blackmon and the Owls have feasted off takeaways this season, owning a 60-16 advantage in points-off-turnover scoring.

OFFENSE PUTTING ON A SHOW

• Kennesaw State racked up 510 yards last week at Gardner-Webb, marking the third time this season the Owls totaled over 500 yards in a single game.
• The Owls are 3-0 this season when totaling 500 or more yards in a single game, and are 5-0 all-time in program history when doing so. 
• In fact, KSU has failed to reach 400 total yards of offense this season just once (ETSU) and have totaled 400 or more yards of offense in a single game in 12 of its 18 games in program history – totaled a 9-3 overall mark in those games. 
• The Owls have out-gained their opponents in all seven games in 2016, accumulating a +830 total yard margin and an average of +118.6 per game. 
• Kennesaw State racked up 47 points against the then-number rated Big South scoring defense (19.7 points per game) last Saturday, and enters the week averaging 38.7 points per game which ranks 11th nationally. 
• KSU went 6-of-13 on third-down conversions and 3-of-4 on fourth-down at Gardner-Webb last Saturday, and enters the week ranked 15th and 20th, respectively, in third-down (46%) and fourth-down (67%) conversions nationally. 

QUICK-STRIKE OFFENSE

• Kennesaw State boasts one of the nation's most potent offenses, as the Owls lead the Big South in scoring, rushing and total offense, and are ranked in the top-11 nationally in each of those three categories.
• Much of the team's explosiveness comes on big plays, as Kennesaw State has amassed 57 plays of 20+ yards, including 16 over the last two games.
• Chaston Bennett has posted 16 explosive plays (20+ yards), nine of which have come over the last two games. Chandler Burks leads the team with 20 explosive plays.
• The Owls recorded a season-high 12 explosive plays at Furman. The team is averaging 8.1 explosive plays per game.
• Over the last two games, the Owls have scored on five explosive plays.

RUNNING PAST OPPONENTS

• Kennesaw State ranks first in the Big South and eighth nationally averaging 295.3 yards per game on the ground. 
• The Owls also rank first in the Big South with 26 rushing touchdowns and have scored 68 percent of their touchdowns this season on the ground. 
• Kennesaw State has out-gained its opponents on the ground in each of its first seven games, racking up an impressive +1,104 rushing yard margin –an average of +157.7 per game. 
• The Owls have totaled 300 or more yards on the ground in four of their seven games this season and are 4-0 when doing so. 
• Kennesaw State is 8-1 all-time when rushing for 300+ yards. 

DEFENSE GETTING IT DONE

• Despite allowing 39 points last Saturday at GWU, the Owls defense held off a furious rally including two key fourth down stops to secure the victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs. 
• Kennesaw State's defense enters the week ranked second in the Big South in total defense (363.1 ypg) and rushing defense (136.1 ypg).
• The Owls are holding their opponents to a Big South-leading 3.8 yards per carry on the ground (253-953) and have allowed a league-low seven rushing TDs.
• KSU won the turnover battle once again, as Dante Blackmon picked off his Big South-leading sixth interception at Gardner-Webb. Blackmon is first in the FCS in INT and also first in the nation in passes defended per game (1.9). 

FEASTING ON TAKEWAYS

• Kennesaw State is not only leading the Big South Conference in turnover margin (+8), but is also cashing in on those takeaways.
• The team has scored on four of its last five takeaways, and for the season, owns a 60-16 margin in points-off-turnover scoring.
• Since not forcing a turnover in the season opener, the Owls have had at least one in each of the next six games.
• The Owls are 5-1 this year when winning the turnover battle.
• Conversely, Kennesaw State has turned the ball over just once over the last four games (fumble vs. Missouri S&T).

GAMEDAY HASHTAGS/ SOCIAL MEDIA HUBS
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Twitter: @KSUOwlNation; @KennesawStFB; @mikedegeorge; @jdorow19
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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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