GAME 7: Gardner-Webb (1-5, 0-0) vs. Kennesaw State (5-1, 1-0)

Oct. 21, 2017 | Fifth Third Bank Stadium | 7 p.m. | HOMECOMING  WATCH: ESPN3 RADIO: ESPN Radio 1230 & 106.3 The Fan 2 KSU Notes | GWU Notes | Live Stats | 2017 Record Book | Media Center Big South Players of the Week | Press Conference | Enemy Territory | Final Word Podcast  Follow Along: @KennesawSTFB | #GoKSUOwls

FIRST & 10 

1. Riding a school record five-game winning streak, Kennesaw State welcomes Gardner-Webb to Fifth Third Bank Stadium for a Homecoming matchup. The Owls are looking for their first 2-0 start to Big South Conference play. 
2. Kennesaw State enters the week as the nation's best rushing team, averaging 335.3 yards per game on the ground. In last week's 42-28 win at Liberty, the Owls set a school-record with 498 yards rushing.
3. In addition to leading the country in rushing, the Owls are ranked 18th nationally in total offense (451.2), 25th in scoring offense (33.0), 17th in time of possession (32:34) and 10th in Red Zone offense (92%).
4. In the Red Zone, the Owls have scored points on each of their last 19 trips, including 10 touchdowns. For the season, the team has scored in the Red Zone on 92% of its trips (22/24).
5. The defense has been just as strong, as KSU enters tonight ranked sixth nationally against the run (70.5), second nationally in most interceptions (12), seventh in turnover margin ( 8) and 28th in points allowed (20.2). The opportunistic Owls are feasting off takeaways by out-pacing opponents 68-10 in points-off-turnover scoring this season. 
6. Kennesaw State and No. 2-ranked North Dakota State are the only two teams nationally to be ranked in the top-10 in both rushing offense and rushing defense. The Owls are first in rushing offense and sixth in rushing defense, while the Bison are second and eighth, respectively.
7. The Owls have recorded at least one interception in every game this season and their 12 rank second-most nationally. Keon Roman leads the team and is tied for second nationally with four, followed by Bryson Armstrong (three) and Taylor Henkle (two). Three other Owls have on each.
8. Kennesaw State earned two more weekly awards from the Big South Conference this week with junior RB Jake McKenzie earning the Offensive Player of the Week and redshirt freshman RB Shaquil Terry getting the nod as Freshman of the Week. Terry (126 yards) and McKenzie (111) each set career highs in rushing yards in last week's win at Liberty.
9. During this five-game winning streak, KSU is outscoring opponents 175-93, averaging 432.4 yards per game and 35.0 points per game. The team has rushed for 343.8 yards per game over the last five wins.
10. In the first half this season, the Owls own a 134-40 advantage in points and are out-gaining opponents by a 1,616-811 margin ( 805 yards). Kennesaw State led Liberty 28-7 at the half last Saturday, improving the team's all-time record to 17-3 when leading at halftime.

A WIN VS GARDNER-WEBB WOULD…

• Hand the Owls their sixth straight victory, extending the longest winning streak in program history.
• Give the Owls their first 2-0 start in conference play.
• Improve KSU's record to 7-6 all-time in conference games. 
• Give Kennesaw State its third victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs in three tries. 
• Improve the Owls' home record to a perfect 4-0 this season. 
• Improve KSU's record to 7-5 all-time in night games. 
• Improve KSU to 2-1 on Homecoming. The Owls beat Point in 2015 and fell to Liberty last season.

FIVE-GAME WINNING STREAK SUCCESS

• KSU defeated Liberty 42-28 last Saturday at Williams Stadium, extending the Owls' winning streak to five games -- a school record. Kennesaw State had two four-game winning streaks in 2016.
• During its five-game winning streak, KSU has outscored opponents 175-93, averaged 432.4 yards per game and scored 35.0 points per game. The Owls are averaging an impressive 343.8 yards per game on the ground over in the five-game winning streak. 
• During the streak, the Owls have converted 31-for-67 (46%) on third-down conversions and 7-for-10 on fourth-down conversions.
• Kennesaw State enters Saturday ranked 11th and 32nd in the nation, respectively, in third-down and fourth-down conversions. 
• The Owls posted 26 first downs at Liberty last Saturday and held the ball for 38:38, which was two seconds shy of the school record.

• Kennesaw State returns to The Nest and puts not only its five-game winning streak, but an unblemished home record (3-0) on the line.
• The Owls enter Saturday averaging 37.7 points per game while holding opponents to 17.0 in three games at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. 
• KSU has out-rushed opponents 970-214 at home this season, averaging 6.4 yards per rush and 323.3 yards per game and totaling 11 touchdowns. 
• The defense has held opponents to 71.3 yards per game on the ground and just one rushing touchdown. 
• Kennesaw State is averaging an impressive 445.7 total yards of offense at home, while holding opponents to 312.7 yards. 
• The Owls have outscored opponents 34-7 in the first quarter at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, and a 45-12 margin in the second quarter. 

Hashtag: #GoKSUOwls
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 become the official home of Owls football team and is home to Owls soccer and lacrosse as well.
 
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.

--#GoKSUOwls--

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