GAME 12: No. 14 Samford (8-3) vs. No. 16 Kennesaw State (10-1) - FCS Playoffs First Round

Nov. 25, 2017 | Fifth Third Bank Stadium | 2 p.m. ET  WATCH: ESPN3 RADIO: ESPN Radio 1230 & 106.3 The Fan 2 KSU Notes | SU Notes | Live Stats | 2017 Record Book | Media Center Big South Champs! | Exposure | FCS Playoff Ticket Information Bohannon Named Eddie Robinson Finalist | Owls Climb Polls Burks, Armstrong Named Players of the Week | Armstrong, Burks Finalists for STATS FCS Awards Follow Along: @KennesawSTFB | #GoKSUOwls

FIRST & 10

• Riding a school record 10-game winning streak, Kennesaw State welcomes Samford to Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The Owls are the first FCS program (since 2008) to host a first round matchup in just their third-year of existence. 
• Kennesaw State enters Saturday ranked 16/18 in the FCS Coaches and STATS FCS Polls, respectively, after clinching the Big South Conference Championship and automatic berth to the NCAA D-I Playoffs. The rankings are the highest in the program's young history mark a program-record four consecutive weeks in the Top 25. 
• The Owls have joined Old Dominion as the only two FCS programs (since 2008) to secure winning seasons in each of their first three years in existence. KSU's 24 wins over its first three seasons are second-most by a start-up Division-I team since 2008 – Old Dominion was 27-8
• KSU is out-scoring opponents 220-75 at home this season, including 55-14 in the first quarter and hold a 97-26 advantage in the second frame. KSU owns a 152-40 scoring difference over the first 30 minutes of action at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The Owls are a perfect 6-0 at home this season. 
• The Owls, who have the nation's third-longest winning streak, are averaging 32.6 points, 435.3 total yards, 343.6 rushing yards and 91.7 passing yards during their 10-game winning streak. 
• The defense pitched a second-half shutout in the Big South title game versus Monmouth last Saturday, forcing a KSU-tying record five turnovers. KSU's defense ranks fifth nationally in scoring defense (14.5), 13th in rushing defense (1005.ypg), and ninth in total defense (281.5 ypg) 
• Kennesaw State tallied two more interceptions last Saturday, giving the team a nation's best 21 on the season. The Owls have compiled at least one pick in every game this season. KSU's 32 takeaways and turnover margin (+23) rank first in the nation and holds a 117-10 (+107) margin in points-off-turnover scoring.
• The Owls posted 26 more first downs a week ago and held the ball for 35:55, including a 10:25 third and 12:56 fourth quarters. The Owls rank sixth in the nation in Time of Possession and have won the TOP battle in 10 of 11 games, surpassing 32 minutes seven times. 
• Kennesaw State enters the game as the nation's best rushing team for the fourth consecutive week, averaging 339.0 yards per game. The Owls are coming off a 405-yard performance vs. Monmouth, marking the eighth straight game the Owls rushed for at least 300 yards. Kennesaw State has out-rushed opponents 3,729-1,106 (+2,623) and a 36-7 advantage in rushing touchdowns over the season.  
• In addition to leading the country in rushing, the Owls are ranked first in the Big South in total offense (445.3ypg), second in scoring (31.7), sixth in the nation in TOP (33:33) and second in the conference in Red Zone (83%). 

TURNOVER PLANK SPEAKS AGAIN 

• The defense pitched its third shutout—second in four weeks—versus Charleston Southern two weeks ago, forcing four turnovers and allowing just 187 yards. 
• The Owls' stout defense followed that with a second-half shutout and forced a KSU program-tying five takeaways in a 52-21 victory over Monmouth to secure the Big South Championship. 
• KSU's defense ranks fifth nationally in scoring (14.5), first in turnover margin (+23), first in turnovers gained (32) and ninth in total defense (281.5ypg).
• Kennesaw State tallied two more interceptions versus Monmouth, giving the team a nation's best 21 on the season. The Owls have compiled at least one pick in every game this season. 
• The Owls 21 interceptions rank first nationally. Keon Roman (four) leads the team, followed by Bryson Armstrong (three), Taylor Henkle (three), Dorian Walker (two), Jace White (two), Akebren Ralls (two), Anthony Gore, Jr. (two) Three other Owls have one each.
• KSU's 32 takeaways and turnover margin (+23) rank first in the nation and holds a 117-10 (+107) margin in points-off-turnover scoring. 
• The Owls' defense has held opponents to just 7.6 points, 136.6 rushing yards, 126.6 passing yards and 263.2 total yards per game over the last five weeks. 
• Junior Taylor Henkle's interception in the closing minute at Montana State secured the victory, and also extended the Owls' interception streak to nine games. The pick continued KSU's streak of at least one interception in every game this season. 
• Kennesaw State's 32 takeways (21 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries) rank first in the nation in turnovers gained. 
• Kennesaw State had no giveaways over the last three weeks until Darnell Holland lost a fumble last week versus Charleston Southern. The Owls have only coughed up the ball once over the last five weeks.
• The turnover margin (+23) ranks first in the nation.

OFFENSE BY THE NUMBERS 

• Kennesaw State enters the game as the nation's best rushing team for the fourth consecutive week, averaging 339.0 yards per game. The Owls are coming off a 405-yard performance versus Monmouth in the Big South Championship game, marking the eighth straight game the Owls rushed for at least 300 yards.
• Kennesaw State has out-rushed opponents 3,729-1,106 (+2,623) and a 36-7 advantage in rushing touchdowns over the season.  
• The Owls are coming off a 343-yard performance two weeks ago versus Charleston Southern, marking the seventh straight game the Owls rushed for at least 300 yards.
•  In addition to leading the country in rushing, the Owls are ranked 16th in total offense (445.3 ypg), second in the Big South in scoring (31.7), sixth in the country in Time of Possession (33:33), third in third-down conversion (51%), and eighth in fourth-down conversions (70%). 
• The Owls are averaging 32.6 points, 435.3 total yards, 343.6 rushing yards and 91.7 passing yards over the stretch of their 10-game winning streak. 
• Kennesaw State failed to reach 20-or-more points in a game for just the ninth time in program history at Montana State, as the Owls have scored 20 points or better in 24 of the 33 game in KSU history. 
• The Owls out-rushed Liberty 498-103, setting a school record for rushing yards in a game. The previous mark of 482 was set last season at Monmouth. KSU has rushed for 400+ yards six times in program history (6-0). 
• Kennesaw State is 23-7 all-time when scoring at least one rushing touchdown. 

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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.

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