By: By Jake Dorow
Winners of seven straight and off to a program-best 7-1 start, 25th-ranked Kennesaw State heads west to take on Montana State in its final non-conference game of the regular season. The game can be seen on Peachtree TV or heard live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 106.3 at 2 p.m. ET.
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FIRST & 10
- Riding a school record seven-game winning streak, No. 25 Kennesaw State flies west to take on Montana State in its final non-conference game of the regular season. The Owls are 3-1 on the road this season, outscoring opponents 113-70 while holding teams to 17.5 points and 273.2 total yards.
- The Owls are back in the Top 25 this weekend, checking in at No. 25 in both the STATS and the FCS Coaches poll. It is the second time in the program's three years to be ranked in the Top 25.
- Kennesaw State enters the week as the nation's best rushing team, averaging 329.4 yards per game. The Owls are coming off a 304-yard performance at Presbyterian, marking the fifth straight game of 300 or more rushing yards in a game.
- In addition to leading the country in rushing, the Owls are ranked 17th nationally in total offense (445.9), fifth in third-down conversions (49.6%), 33rd in scoring offense (30.4), 12th in time of possession (32:41) and 29th in Red Zone offense (84%).
- Junior QB Chandler Burks, named the Big South Offensive Player of the Week this week for the second time, has guided an offense that is averaging 31.4 points and 431.7 total yards during this seven-game win streak. Over the last five games, he has accounted for 14 (10 rush, 4 pass) of the team's 23 touchdowns. He accounted for all four TDs (three rush, one pass) in last week's 28-0 win at Presbyterian to tie a school record.
- The Owls enter the weekend ranked 11th nationally against the run (86.1), third nationally in most interceptions (16), second in turnover margin ( 14), fifth in scoring defense (15.5) and eighth in total defense (284.9 ypg).
- The defense had another strong showing at Presbyterian, pitching the program's second-ever shutout (first over an FCS foe). The Owls' defense has allowed just three total points, 249.0 total yards and 116.0 passing yards per game over the last two games.
- The Owls have recorded at least one interception in every game this season and their 16 INTs rank second-most nationally. Keon Roman (four)—who ranks 15th nationally in INT per game—leads the team, followed by Bryson Armstrong (three), Taylor Henkle (two), Akebren Ralls (two) and Dorian Walker (two). Three other Owls have one each.
- During this seven-game win streak, KSU has outscored opponents 220-96, including a dominant 114-19 advantage in the second quarter and 155-33 in the first half. The Owls have out-rushed opponents 2,342-619 ( 1,723) and have ran a total of 477 plays – averaging 68 plays per game.
- The trip to Bozeman will mark the following superlatives for the three-year old Owls' program: longest trip (1,937 miles; previous 887 at Monmouth), highest elevation (4,860 feet; previous 1,808 feet in Kennesaw) and possibly coldest kickoff temperature (41 degrees forcasted on Saturday; previous 54 degrees at Monmouth last year).
A WIN AT MONTANA STATE WOULD…
•   Give the Owls their first victory over the Bobcats in program history.
•   Hand Kennesaw State its first victory over a team that competes in the Big Sky Conference.
•   Improve the Owls' non-conference record to 5-1 for the season.
•   Improve KSU's record to 14-3 overall in non-conference games all-time.
•   Hand the Owls their eighth straight victory and continues its record-breaking start to 8-1 overall.
•   Give Kennesaw State a 4-1 road record.
•   Improve KSU's record to 15-4 all-time in day games.
NOTING THE OWLS' SEVEN-GAME WINNING STREAK
•   Kennesaw State is averaging 31.4 points per game, 431.7 yards, and 334.6 rushing yards per game during its program-best seven-game winning streak.
•   During its streak, KSU has outscored opponents 220-96, including a dominant 114-19 advantage in the second quarter and 155-33 in the first half.
•   The Owls have out-rushed opponents 2,342-619 ( 1,723) and have ran a total of 477 plays – averaging 68 plays per game.
•   KSU has converted 49-of-99 (49%) of its third-down attempts over the seven games and an impressive 10-of-13 (77%) on fourth-down conversions.
•   The Owls rank fifth and 12th nationally in third and fourth down conversions, respectively, for the season.
•   The defense has held opponents to just 13.7 points per game, allowing 281.1 total yards of offense during the stretch.
•   The Owls have held opponents to 88.4 rushing yards per game and just three rushing touchdowns over the last six games.
LONGEST ACTIVE WINNING STREAKS (FCS)
•   James Madison      20
•   North Carolina A&T   8
•   North Dakota State   8
•   KENNESAW STATE   7
•   Central Arkansas      7
•   Duquesne                  7
•   Elon                             7
•   Grambling                     7
•   Jacksonville State      7
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GAMEDAY HASHTAGS/ SOCIAL MEDIA HUBS
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.
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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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