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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Big South Championship returns to Kennesaw State after a 49-17 rout of No. 24 Monmouth on Saturday afternoon inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The win gives the No. 5 Owls their third Big South Championship in the last five seasons and first since 2018.

With the Owls (10-1, 7-0 Big South Conference) moving to the ASUN Conference next season, head coach Brian Bohannon finished his career in the Big South with a conference record of 29-8 over seven seasons. Bohannon has 62 career wins and is one shy of tying the Big South career wins record (David Bennett, Coastal Carolina).

Quarterback Xavier Shepherd led the way for the KSU offense, compiling 118 yards on 29 carries. He also went 3-of-5 passing for 52 yards. Shepherd's four rushing touchdowns give him 19 on the year, which currently ranks first in the FCS.

Sophomore running back Iaan Cousin also recorded a break-out performance for the Owls offense, posting 114 yards on three carries with one touchdown. The showing marked Cousin's first 100+ yard rushing game of his career. Shepherd and Cousin surpassing the 100-yard mark was the first time KSU had two 100+ yard rushers in the same game since the 2019 season.

The Kennesaw State defense held Monmouth (7-4, 6-1) to only 17 points and it was the second-lowest point total on the year for the Hawks. The Owls' defense allowed a season-low 30 rush yards and recorded five sacks for the first time since 2019. Kerick Reese led the way with five solo tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.

After forcing a Monmouth punt on its first drive, KSU wasted no time getting on the board. Senior running back Irving Smith took a pitch and ran 40 yards up-field to move the Owls into enemy territory. Two plays later, Shepherd would find the end zone on a nine-yard touchdown run for his 16^th of the season. Kennesaw State moved the ball 72 yards on five plays and took only two minutes and 24 seconds off the clock.

The Hawks attempted to answer the Owls' score but were stopped on a fourth down attempt at the KSU 17. Both defenses stood strong for the next two drives, until Adeolu Adeleke flew up the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown run. The run marked the longest of Adeleke's career and extended the Owls lead to 14-0.

Another lock-down stop by the defense gave the Owls a chance to blow the game wide open. The offense capitalized and put together an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive to take a 21-0 lead. The drive was highlighted by a Cousin 33-yard run and was finished by Shepherd's 17^th rushing touchdown of the season.

Monmouth would take the kickoff return to the house for a 91-yard touchdown return, but the KSU offense continued its stellar first-half performance with another score of its own. Cousin broke off his second run of the day to get the ball down to the Monmouth one-yard line. Two plays later, Shepherd would sneak the ball into the end zone for his third rushing touchdown of the afternoon.

The Owls ended the first half with 310 yards of total offense for the most first half yardage the team has gained this season. Shepherd added 81 rushing yards, while Cousin was close behind with 76. Adeleke's 61-yard touchdown-run was the longest for KSU since the 2019 season (J. Murphy at Wofford, 61 yards).

The second half started with fireworks. Kennesaw State fumbled on its first play, but a Kerick Reese strip-sack gave Kennesaw State the ball back on the very next play. The Owls would fake a punt on fourth and six with a direct snap to Preston Daniels. The sophomore exploded 26-yards down the middle of the field for a first down.

Shepherd and the offense played off the momentum from the Daniel's run and scored on a 13-play, 79-yard drive. Shepherd's one-yard touchdown run was his fourth of the day and made him the first KSU football player with four rushing touchdowns in a game since Tommy Bryant in 2019 (vs. Gardner-Webb).

The KSU defense dominated again and forced a three-and-out on the ensuing MU drive. Cousin then ignited the crowd with his third run of 30+ yards on the day as he sprinted into the end zone for a 38-yard score. The sophomore set a new career high in rushing during today's game and extended the KSU lead to 42-10 at the end of the third quarter.

Jonathan Murphy found Carter Pinholster for a 48-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to cap the score at 49-17. The touchdown marked the first of Pinholster's career.

The 49 points scored by the KSU offense were a season-high, as were the 471 rush yards. Kennesaw State's 571 yards of total offense are the second most in program history.

Kennesaw State awaits its playoff fate with the FCS Selection Show set to air on Sunday afternoon at 12:30. Fans can click here to purchase tickets or call the KSU ticket office at (470) 578-4849.

Post-Game Notes

• Kennesaw State won its third Big South Championship in school history and first since the 2018 season. The Owls have won three of the last five Big South titles.
• Head coach Brian Bohannon has 62 career victories and is only one away from tying the Big South career wins record.
• The Owls have now won seven conference games for the first time in school history and finished with a perfect conference record.
• With the win, KSU is off to its third 10-1 start in the last four full seasons.
• The Owls win streak sits at nine games. This is the third time in school history the team has won nine in a row.
• Head coach Brian Bohannon improved his record to 29-8 in the Big South.
• The Kennesaw State offense totaled 571 total yards and was the second most in program history.
• Quarterback Xavier Shepherd scored four touchdowns bringing his season total to 19. This ranks first in the FCS.
• Kennesaw State has now won 10 games in a row at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
• Senior Adeolu Adeleke had a career-long 61-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
• The Owls' offense has rushed for 150+ yards in 70 consecutive games.
• KSU has won seven consecutive games in the month of November.
• Senior Irving Smith set a career-high in rush yards (50) and recorded a career-long 40-yard run in the first quarter.
• The Kennesaw State defense held Monmouth to only 17 points; the second-lowest point total on the year for the Hawks.
• Sophomore Iaan Cousin averaged 38.0 yards per carry as he went for a career-best 114 yards on three carries and one touchdown.
• The Owls' defense allowed a season-low 30 rush yards and recorded five sacks for the first time since 2019.
• Sophomore receiver Carter Pinholster caught a 48-yard touchdown pass for the first of his career.

 

 
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