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KENNESAW, Ga. – The No. 20 Kennesaw State football team owned No. 17 Jacksonville State from start to finish in a 31-6 victory on Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The win marked the second highest margin of victory in a top-25 matchup in KSU's history and moved head coach Brian Bohannon into second-place all-time in Big South Conference career victories.

Kennesaw State won by controlling the ground, owning the clock, and winning the turnover battle.

KSU outgained JSU by a 271-71 margin in rushing offense, held the football for 37:19 of game clock, and forced two turnovers while committing none.

Quarterback Xavier Shepherd had 32 attempts on the ground for 124 yards – the most the sophomore quarterback has ever totaled in his career. He also completed 5-of-6 passes for 72 yards.

The Owls (3-1) surprised the Jacksonville State (2-3) defense on the first play of the game with an 18-yard pass down the field. Shepherd connected with slot back Adeolu Adeleke on a wide-open pass that moved the ball to the middle of the field. Eight plays later, Adeleke would break off a 32-yard run, finding the back of the end zone for the Owls' first score of the day. The opening drive went 75 yards on nine plays and took 4:48 off the clock. This marked the second time this season Kennesaw State scored a touchdown on its first possession of the game.

Jacksonville State attempted to answer the Owls' score but was stopped on third down after junior defensive back Java'n Singletary broke-up a pass in the end zone. On the next play, with the ball on eight-yard line, senior defensive tackle Desmond Scott broke through the JSU offensive line and blocked the Gamecock field goal attempt. The ball was recovered by Welton Spottsville and returned 24 yards to the 50-yard line.

Shepherd and the offense continued to use the ground game to move the ball down field during the second possession. On the 11^th play, Shepherd kept the ball on the option and found the end zone with a 16-yard touchdown run. This marked the first of three rushing touchdowns the quarterback would have in the game and was the first time the Owls had a quarterback hit the three-touchdown mark since Tommy Bryant (Feb. 28, 2021 vs. Shorter).

Jacksonville State found itself down 14-0 after the first two drives of the game – the exact opposite of what happened in 2018, when the Gamecocks led by 14 in the first half. JSU carried the ball down the field again on its second possession but was stopped on a fourth down rush attempt by senior linebacker Evan Thompson. Thompson finished with four tackles (three solo) and one pass break-up.

The Kennesaw State defense allowed only 134 total yards in the first half. The blocked field goal and the fourth down stop were big moments in the game, but an interception late in the second quarter was the defining play of the half. Thompson dropped back into coverage and was able to get a hand on a pass from JSU quarterback Zerrick Cooper. The deflection looked as if it would fall harmlessly to the ground, until Singletary came flying in from the safety position to make a diving catch. The hustle and awareness on this play led the Owls into halftime with a 17-0 lead.

After deferring in the first half, Jacksonville State got the ball to start the third quarter. Four plays later, Owls' cornerback Erwin Byrd let his presence be known with the second interception of the day for the Kennesaw State defense. Shepherd and the offense took the field and looked to blow the game wide open with another score. On a third and seven, Shepherd was able to find receiver Caleb O'Neal for a 14-yard reception which kept the chains moving. At the end of a seven-play, 38-yard drive, Shepherd punched the ball in for a two-yard score and extended the lead to 24-0.

Later in the third quarter, Jacksonville State scored its lone touchdown of the day and would fail the two-point conversion attempt. At 24-6, the Owls' offense answered and put together a long drive that took 8:53 off the clock. This 15-play, 75-yard drive was finished with Shepherd's third rushing touchdown of the day – a one-yard score.

Other offensive notables included running back Kyle Glover, who carried 14 times for 60 yards to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for his career.
 
The game wrapped up the 2021 non-conference regular season schedule for the Owls. Kennesaw State moves to 3-0 all-time against JSU, is 9-1 against teams from the state of Alabama, and has won 15 consecutive non-conference FCS games. The Owls are back in action next week as they take on Hampton University at Armstrong Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 9. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.

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