Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | Bohannon Press Conference

KENNESAW, Ga. – In a match-up featuring two of the top rushing offenses in the country, it was defense that highlighted a 13-10 Kennesaw State victory over visiting Wofford in the second round of the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 
The Owls (11-1), the No. 4 playoff seed, advance to the quarterfinals where they will face South Dakota State next week at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The game will be played Friday or Saturday with the exact time and date yet to be announced. South Dakota State was a 51-6 winner over Duquesne.
 
With the score tied 10-10 and 2:10 remaining, Kennesaw State's Anthony Gore, Jr. sacked quarterback Joe Newman, who fumbled the ball. The Owls' Andrew Butcher recovered the ball at the Wofford 21-yard line, and four plays later Justin Thompson kicked a 30-yard field goal with 1:52 remaining to give Kennesaw State a 13-10 lead.
 
The Terriers (9-4) had one more legitimate chance to drive for a potential game-tying or go-ahead touchdown starting at their 25-yard line. However, the Owls' defense forced four straight incomplete passes and KSU took over on downs.
 
Both teams entered the game averaging over 400 yards a game and were held to under 300 yards. Kennesaw State totaled 242 yards of offense, while Wofford finished with 236 total yards.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, both teams produced touchdowns on their first possession of the second quarter.
 
Darnell Holland accounted for the first points of the game as he broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run on the opening play of the second quarter.
 
Wofford answered on its next possession when Newman connected with D'mauriae Van Cleave on a 57-yard pass play that capped a two-play, 62-yard drive.
 
The Terriers took their only lead of the game at the 7:45 mark when Luke Carter made a 45-yard field goal to put Wofford ahead 10-7.
 
Thompson ended the first half with a 40-yard field to knot the game at 10-10.
 
Wofford went into halftime with 119 total yards while Kennesaw State totaled 142 yards of offense.
 
The Terriers drove the ball to the Owls' 35-yard late in the third quarter and were entering field goal range. However, the KSU defense forced a five-yard loss on second down and opened the fourth quarter with an interception in the end zone by Cincere Mason on third down to thwart the drive.
 
After a Kennesaw State fumble on its next possession gave Wofford the ball at the KSU 41-yard line, the Owls' defense once again came up big, stopping the Terriers on a 4th-and-2 play to take over on downs.
 
Wofford was never again able to advance the ball into Kennesaw State territory.

WOFFORD AT KENNESAW STATE POSTGAME NOTES
 
Team Notes

• Kennesaw State produced its third playoff win and second at home.
• KSU advances to the FCS quarterfinals for the second straight season.
• KSU has won 24 of its last 26 games, and 15 straight at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the third longest active winning streak in FCS.
• The defense held Wofford to just 74 rushing yards, 257 rushing yards fewer than its season average.
• The Owls' 163 rushing yards were their fewest since totaling 157 at Duquesne on Sept. 24, 2016.
• KSU's 13 tackles for loss set a program record as well as a Big South playoff single game mark.
• The scoreless third quarter marked the first in KSU history.
• The Owls were held to just one rushing touchdown for the first time since the season opener at Georgia State on Aug. 20.

 Individual Notes

• Nicolas Jones recorded his third punt of 50 yards or more in the first quarter with a 50-yard kick.
• Jones' first quarter punt was his sixth this season that landed inside the 20-yard line.
• Jones' seven punt attempts for 296 yards were both season-highs.
• Jones has five career 50-plus yard punts in the playoffs, the most in Big South playoff history.
• Justin Thompson made his 143rd consecutive PAT.
• Darnell Holland's 53-yard rushing touchdown was the longest touchdown run in Big South playoff history.
• Holland's touchdown was his fourth rush of 50 or more yards this season.
• Holland now has a rushing touchdown in three straight playoff games.
• Anthony Gore had a career-high six tackles for loss, setting a Big South Conference record.
• Cincere Mason's fourth-quarter interception was his third of the season.  
• Chandler Burks did not score a touchdown for just the second time in 16 games.
• Bryson Armstrong has a Big South Conference-record 23 career playoff tackles.

WOFFORD AT KENNESAW STATE POSTGAME QUOTES

Kennesaw State Head Coach Brian Bohannon
"The ultimate goal when you get to the playoffs is to survive and advance. And we survived and advanced and we'll get to practice next week."
 
"By the time the day is over there will be eight football teams left in Division I FCS. For the second year in a row we get a chance to go to the quarterfinals with a four-year old program. I think there is a lot of things we have to get excited about and we are not done. We have a lot of work to do. I'm proud of our kids and I'm proud of our staff. We found a way."
 
Anthony Gore
"We are a team at the end of the day. I don't try to get too big on if this is the best game I ever played. Coach (Brian) Newberry put a big emphasis on us being wolves, on us getting the kill, and no matter who gets the kill, we are going to eat. Whoever gets the kill, we are going to eat together."
 
Darnell Holland on his TD
"Once I heard the play call, I knew everyone was going to be blocked… (Chaz Nwadike) told me in the snap "Hey Darnell I'll block the safety and it'll be a touchdown."
 
Wofford Head Coach Josh Conklin
"It was a heck of a football game. We give a lot of credit to Kennesaw State. They executed a tremendous plan offensively and defensively, and I have a lot of respect for their coaching staff."
 
"You knew it would come down to one play at the end and they ended up making one more play than we did. And that's sometimes how these games go down. You accept it and you get better. We are going to keep moving forward, see if we can at some point in time play in the National Championship because this playoff stuff is a lot of fun."

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