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KENNESAW, Ga. – Chaston Bennett racked up school records in rushing yards (179) and all-purpose yards (267) in leading Kennesaw State to a 56-0 shutout of Clark Atlanta Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 
The victory is the Owls' first-ever shutout and gives the program its first seven-win season. Kennesaw State improved to 7-2 with its seventh win in the last eight games, while the Panthers slipped to 5-5.
 
"For us to accomplish a seven-win season is a big deal," said head coach Brian Bohannon. "And to get a shutout for the first time in program history was a great thing to achieve. We protected The Nest and we are going to enjoy this before finishing the season with two important conference games."
 
Bennett, the reigning Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Week, made his case to repeat as the senior from Crockett, Texas touched the ball 11 times and gained 267 all-purpose yards – seven carries for 179 yards and a touchdown, two catches for 39 yards and a score, one punt return for 31 yards and one kick return for 18 yards.
 
"I feel like I took advantage of the opportunities I had today to make big plays and my teammates did a great job with their blocking," said Bennett, who has 967 all-purpose yards over the last five games. "I take pride in being explosive and my mindset is to score every time I touch the ball."
 
Seven different Owls shared the program-record-tying eight touchdowns. Chandler Burks rushed six times for 59 yards and tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Bennett and a picture-perfect 36-yard strike to Justin Sumpter.
 
The FCS's third-leading rushing team, Kennesaw State rolled up 463 yards on the ground and totaled 543 yards in the shutout victory. Over the last two weeks, the KSU offense has amassed 1,056 yards of total offense. The Owls scored on seven of their first nine possessions and didn't punt until the fourth quarter.
 
For the season, Kennesaw State is averaging 41.8 points per game, 333.6 yards rushing and 492.0 yards of total offense.
 
Darnell Holland opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown run – his fifth TD this season, and Sumpter followed six minutes later with his seventh touchdown grab, but first since Oct. 1 at Furman as he recovers from an ankle injury.
 
Jake McKenzie, Trey Chivers, Sam Outlaw and Jantzen Jeffery added rushing scores for the Owls. The TD for Jeffrey is the first of the career for KSU's third-string quarterback.
 
Clark Atlanta, a Division-II program located in downtown Atlanta, gained 246 yards with 115 yards coming from running back Jaha McCray (90 yards rushing, 25 receiving). QB Dashawn Blow was 14-of-25 passing for 143 yards.
 
Kennesaw State returns to action next Saturday to welcome Presbyterian in the Owls' final home game of the season. Kickoff is set for noon on Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day.
 
POST-GAME #NESTNOTES
 
7-2!
With Kennesaw State's 56-0 victory over Clark Atlanta, the Owls have now totaled their most victories in a single season. KSU won six games in its inaugural season in 2015 and surpassed that mark this year with two remaining games in the regular season.
 
SHUTTING OUT THE PANTHERS
Kennesaw State's defense pitched a shutout for the first time in program history. The Owls allowed just 103 rushing yards and a total of 246 yards for the game, while holding the Panthers to just 4.0 yards per play.
 
PROTECTING THE NEST
Kennesaw State improved to 3-2 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium this season and 8-3 all-time. The Owls are averaging 38.4 points per game at home this season and have outscored opponents 192-75. Kennesaw State, which entered the day ranked third in the nation in rushing yards, is now averaging 335.4 yards per game on the ground at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Kennesaw State's school-record-tying eight touchdowns were scored by seven different Owls, including two from Chaston Bennett. It was the fifth straight multi-TD game for Bennett, who has scored 11 touchdowns in the last five games.
 
BENNETT DOES IT AGAIN
Chaston Bennett's 69 rush during the Owls' first possession jumpstarted a record-breaking day. For the second time in as many weeks, Bennet elapsed the 100-yard rushing mark but set a new school record with 179 yards on the ground on just seven carries and a TD – an average of 25.6 yards per carry. He also hauled in two catches for 39 yards and a score, while recording the longest punt return in school history (31 yards). All of that added up to a record-breaking 267 all-purpose yards.
 
OFFENSIVE SHOWCASE, AGAIN!
The Owls had their way on the offensive side of the ball, outgaining Clark Atlanta 543-246 and an impressive 463-103 on the ground. KSU has outgained each of its nine opponents this season. KSU racked up 500+ yards of offense for the fifth time this season and second time in as many weeks, while scoring 40 or more points in a game for the sixth time this year.

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