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KENNESAW, Ga. – Sophomore QB Chandler Burks totaled 288 yards and threw for a career three touchdowns in leading Kennesaw State to a dominant, 45-10, victory over Presbyterian on Senior Day Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 
The Owls improved to 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big South Conference by averaging 8.5 yards per play and out-gaining the Blue Hose 567-187 in total yards. It is the fourth consecutive game, and sixth time this season, KSU has surpassed 500 yards of total offense. PC fell to 2-8, 1-4.
 
"I like the way our football team came out and played today early on," said head coach Brian Bohannon, whose team improved to 9-3 in home games over its first two years in program history. "We were very motivated and hungry to win the ballgame. At the end of the day, we came out and took care of business."
 
Big plays from senior Chaston Bennett allowed Kennesaw State to grab an early 14-0 lead. The explosive running back broke loose on a 47-yard touchdown run on the Owls' opening possession and reeled in a 36-yard touchdown strike from Burks to make it 14-0 with 8:06 left in the first.
 
Bennett, who was hobbled with an ankle injury in the game, finished with four carries for 78 yards to go with his 36-yard touchdown catch. It was the sixth-straight multi-touchdown game for the senior, who has scored 13 times in that stretch.
 
Burks was an efficient 6-of-10 passing for 169 yards and TD passes to Bennett, Justin Sumpter and Xavier Harper, who had his best day as an Owl. Harper finished with three catches for a career-high 121 yards, which included a 46-yard touchdown that made it 31-3 in the third quarter.
 
"It's always a positive to come home and get a win," said Burks. "We aren't done by any means and we came here to make history. It feels good today but we have another one next week."
 
The touchdown pass to Sumpter was a two-yard fade in the back-corner of the end zone with four seconds left in the first half to make it 24-3. The Owls needed just five plays to drive 75 yards in 45 seconds to setup that touchdown.
 
Anthony Gore was in on 10 tackles and made two tackles for loss to lead a Kennesaw State defense that limited Presbyterian to just 187 total yards and 11 first downs. Of the five tackles by Tonarius Portress, four were behind the line of scrimmage, including a career-high two sacks.
 
Over the last three games, the Owls are yielding 9.0 points per game and out-scoring the opposition 70-7 in the second half.
 
A Trey White rushing touchdown, and a 55-yard touchdown pass from Daniel David to Reed, capped the scoring as the Owls reached the 40-point mark for the fourth straight game and seventh time this season.
 
Kennesaw State has one more game left in the regular season, and it could be for a share of the Big South Conference title.
 
Should Charleston Southern beat Liberty today, the Owls would need to beat CSU next Saturday on the road to split the title with the Flames. Kickoff at CSU Stadium is set for 11:45 a.m. and the game is live on ESPN3.


 
POST-GAME #NESTNOTES
 
WINNING WAYS
Both Kennesaw State's eight wins, and three conference wins, are school records. The Owls were 6-5 overall and 2-4 in Big South Conference games in last year's inaugural season.
 
SENIORS' FINAL HOME GAME
Saturday marked the final home game for 12 Kennesaw State seniors, who was honored before the game -- Chaston Bennett, Dante Blackmon, Zack Blaylock, Leigh Comfort, Derrick Farrow, Jantzen Jeffrey, Steven Johnson, Malik Letatau, Dustyn Moore, Nick Perrotta, Micah Reed, Trey White. All 12 seniors saw action Saturday.
 
PROTECT THE NEST
The Owls wrapped up their home slate for the 2016 finishing with a 4-2 overall mark at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Kennesaw State finished with a +25.3 scoring margin at home, outscoring opponents 237-85. KSU held opponents to 275.2 total yards per game and 14.2 points per game, while averaging 491.0 total yards of offense –336.7 yards per game on the ground—scoring 21 rushing touchdowns.
 
DEFENSIVE MENTALITY
Kennesaw State's defense was stout for the third straight week, holding Presbyterian to just 10 points. The Owls are holding opponents to 9.0 points per game over the last three games -- allowing 224.7 total yards during the span. Kennesaw State has outscored its opponents 80-20 in the first half and 70-7 in the second half over the last three games.  
 
CRUCIAL YARDS
The Owls were two-for-two on fourth-down conversions Saturday and have converted eight straight over the last three games. Over the last four games, KSU is 11-of-13 on fourth downs. The Owls entered the game as the nation's fourth-best team on fourth downs.
 
CB3 UNDER CENTER
Sophomore QB Chandler Burks had a big day under center for the Owls, completing 6-of-10 passes for 169 yards and a career-high three TD passes. Burks also totaled 119 yards on 20 carries. It was the second time in his career that he surpassed 100 yards and 100 passing in the same game (at Furman). Burks has accounted for 22 of the team's 59 touchdowns (13 pass, nine rush) this season.
 
HARPER'S BIG DAY
Sophomore WR Xavier Harper hauled in three catches for a career-high 121 yards and a touchdown Saturday. Harper's 63-yard TD is the fifth-longest receiving score in program history, helping him top the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career.
 
BENNETT'S QUICK PUNCH
Playing in his final game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, senior RB Chaston Bennett scored twice on the Owls' first two possessions to give Kennesaw State a quick 14-0 lead. Bennett's 47-yard score and 36-yard TD catch gave him his sixth straight game with two or more scores. His finished with 78 yards on four carries and 36 yards on one catch in limited action due to injury.

-- #GoKSUOwls --