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KENNESAW, Ga. – A late second-half comeback attempt came up short as No. 2 Kennesaw State fell 27-17 to No. 5 South Dakota State in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 
Reserve quarterback Daniel David came off the bench for an injured Chandler Burks and engineered two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to pull the Owls (11-2) to within three points at 20-17 with 6:42 remaining.
 
However, South Dakota State (10-2) answered with an eight-play, 65-yard drive that consumed 4:13 off the clock and culminated with a 15-yard touchdown run by Taryn Christian with 2:22 remaining that gave the Jackrabbits a 27-17 lead and secured a trip to the FCS semifinals next week at defending national champion North Dakota State.
 
The loss marked the end of an era for Kennesaw State as 17 "Original Gangsters", who were part of the program's original signing class in 2014 and set the trajectory for the Owls, saw their collegiate careers come to an end.
 
Led by graduate quarterback Burks, Kennesaw State compiled a four-year record of 37-12, captured two Big South Conference championships and advanced to the FCS quarterfinals in each of the last two seasons.
 
With South Dakota State leading 10-3 with 10:57 remaining in the first half, the Owls suffered a key blow when Burks left the game with an injury and was unable to return.
 
David relieved Burks and completed five of 11 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown, and rushed 13 times for 74 yards and a score.
 
Trailing 20-3 heading into the fourth quarter, Kennesaw State began to find its offensive rhythm. David led the Owls on a seven-play, 73-yard drive that was capped when the junior quarterback connected with senior Jake McKenzie on a 19-yard pass play with less than a minute expired in the fourth quarter.
 
After forcing a South Dakota punt on the Jackrabbits' next possession, Kennesaw State began a drive from its own nine-yard and moved the ball 91 yards in nine plays that culminated on a 1-yard run by David with 6:42 remaining and brought KSU to within 20-17.
 
Key plays on the drive included a 35-yard rush by Darnell Holland and a 38-yard hookup from David to Isaac Foster, the latter play giving Kennesaw State a first down at the South Dakota 1-yard line.
 
KSU outgained South Dakota State 418-308, while rushing for 312 yards.  

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT KENNESAW STATE GAME NOTES
 
TEAM NOTES
- The Owls suffered their first home loss since Oct. 15, 2016 against Liberty
- The loss snapped an 11-game winning streak
- KSU had its 15-game home game winning streak snapped
- The Kennesaw State defense held South Dakota State to 308 total yards, a Jackrabbits season low
- The Owls are now 2-2 in December
- Kennesaw State ends the season 11-2 and is a program-best 23-4 over the last two campaigns
- KSU won at least 11 games in back-to-back season for the first time in program history
- Today's game marked the third time this season that the Jackrabbits have been held under 30 points
- With Cincere Mason's interception, the Owls have recorded an interception in three straight games
- The Owls were shutout in the first quarter for the second time this season
-  The Owls totaled 147 passing yards, marking the fifth time this season KSU has reached the century mark
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Cincere Mason recorded his team-leading fourth interception of the season
- Chance Bates recorded is first-career tackle for loss
- Bates recorded a career-high six tackles
- Bryson Armstrong upped his season sack total to 2.5
- Jake McKenzie scored his third career receiving touchdown and first of the season
- Isaac Foster led the team with a career-high 45 receiving yards, recording a career-long 38-yard reception
- Daniel David recorded his seventh career rushing 
- Justin Thompson totaled five points ( field goal and two extra points) to tie the Big South Conference career scoring record by a kicker (316 points)

For more information on Kennesaw State athletics, follow @KennesawStFB on Twitter or like Kennesaw State Football on Facebook and Instagram.

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