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SPARTANBURG, S.C.- Jonathan Murphy cemented himself as a Kennesaw State Football legend on Saturday, as the sophomore led the Owls past Wofford 28-21 in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.
 
Murphy, who came in for an injured Tommy Bryant at quarterback in the second quarter, rushed for 206 yards and three scores, both Big South records for a quarterback in the playoffs.
 
With the win, the Owls secured their place in the second round of the FCS Playoffs for a third straight season. The 28 points the Owls offense manufactured tied a KSU playoff record, when the Owls scored 28 versus Samford on Nov. 25, 2017.
 
Bryson Armstrong led the Owls on defense after totaling 12 tackles, a forced fumble and recorded a tackle-for-loss. It was his third 10-plus tackle game in six playoff games.
 
On a mild afternoon at Gibbs Stadium, Kennesaw State's first possession was hindered by a penalty. The Owls had captured a pair of first downs prior, but a Nicholas Jones punt ended the first series. Wofford responded with a score on its opening possession and held a 7-0 lead with 5:05 to play in the first quarter.
 
After the Kennesaw State defense forced a Wofford three-and-out, the KSU offense responded with a nine-play 64-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown run from Bryant. The drive was aided by a 20-yard completion by Caleb O'Neal and a 16-yard reception from Bronson Rechsteiner.
 
The KSU defense flexed its muscle on the Terrier's ensuing drive, forced Wofford into a fourth-and-14 and took over at the visitor 46 after a 15-yard punt return. Bryant fumbled on the Owls' first play of the drive and Wofford took over at the 43-yard line.
 
The game turned into a slugfest late in the second quarter as both teams traded turnovers. On Kennesaw State's final possession of the half Murphy made two dazzling plays scrambling, but the latter came up short at the five-yard line as the half expired.  
 
The Terriers took the opening possession of the second half down for six, and claimed a 14-7 advantage five minutes into the quarter.
 
On the first play from scrimmage after the KSU defense forced a punt midway through the fourth quarter, Murphy took the ball to the Wofford six-yard line. Three plays later, Murphy snuck in to tie up the game with 1:24 in the third quarter.
 
Kennesaw State brought out its turnover prop "Plank" on the Terriers next possession, when Bryson Armstrong forced a fumble and Cincere Mason returned the ball 37 yards to Wofford's 20-yard line. Murphy converted the turnover into points with a half-yard sneak on fourth down to give the Owls their first lead of the game with just over 10 minutes to play.
 
Murphy put the game away with a 61-yard touchdown run with 4:02 to play in the contest that gave the Owls a 14-point lead, 28-14.
 
The Owls will travel to Ogden, Utah, for the second round of the FCS playoffs against Weber State on Dec. 7.