KENNESAW, Ga.- After winning 12-straight Big South games, Kennesaw State stumbled against Monmouth, 45-21, on a brisk Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 
The Kennesaw State defense came out of the gate destructive, as it forced back-to-back three-and-outs to begin the game. After upping the tempo on the third drive, Monmouth was able to drive the ball deep into Kennesaw State territory and knocked through a 22-yard field goal.
 
On KSU's third drive of the game, Tommy Bryant found Caleb O'Neal for a 43-yard completion that set up a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Bryant. Monmouth answered on its next drive and took a 10-7 lead with 13:06 to go in the half. Monmouth extended its lead to 17-7 with a seven-yard touchdown run at the midway point of the second quarter.
 
Monmouth served the Owls their largest deficient of the season at the 2:17 mark in the first half after going up 24-7 on a 10-yard run. A 41-yard interception return touchdown at the one-minute mark in the half put Monmouth up 31-7 at the break.
 
After the Owls turned the ball over on downs to open up the second half, Monmouth completed a 92-yard pass for a touchdown to extend its lead to 38-7 with 9:31 in the third quarter.
 
The Owls opened the playbook with under five minutes to go in the game when Bronson Rechsteiner caught a pitch and threw it to Shaquil Terry for a 65-yard touchdown. Bryant scored his second touchdown of the season on a 50-yard scamper up the sideline with 2:51 in the fourth quarter to being the contest to its final score 45-21.
 
Kennesaw State returns to action at Campbell on Nov. 9.
 
Team Notes
• Caleb O'Neal caught a 42-yard pass for his longest career receptionBryson Perry led the team with a career-high # tackles
• Bronson Rechsteiner completed his first career pass, a 64-yard bomb to Shaquil Terry for a TD
• Most points ever given up in a single quarter (28)
• The loss snaps a 12-game Big South conference winning streak
• This is the Owls first regular season home loss since Oct. 15, 2016