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KENNESAW, Ga. – After 448 days without a game, the Kennesaw State football program returned to action Saturday afternoon and scored 35 unanswered points to knock off Shorter University 35-3 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
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The Owls improved to 5-1 all-time in home openers and 3-3 in season openers with the victory, while picking up their 13th consecutive non-conference regular season home win.
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Making his fourth career start under center, senior quarterback
Tommy Bryant opened the year with a three-touchdown performance on the ground, giving him 16 rushing touchdowns in his last seven career games.
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Kyle Glover rushed for a game-high 87 yards and a scored one touchdown, while
Isaac Foster added 65 yards on the ground, including 27-yard run in the third quarter.
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Jonathan Murphy capped off the scoring in the final minutes with an 18-yard touchdown run, putting a lid on the five-touchdown output by the offense.
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After Shorter scored a field goal on the opening possession of the game, the Kennesaw State defense dominated the Hawks, totaling 11.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and recovering three fumbles.
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Kareem Taylor anchored the defense with eight total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
Bryson Armstrong and
Desmond Scott added seven tackles apiece and
Markeith Montgomery had a team-high 2.0 tackles for loss.
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The defense allowed three points or less for the 11th time in program history as the Owls have outscored opponents by a combined 94-3 margin in their last two season openers.
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KSU improved to 8-1 all-time against teams from the State of Georgia, including 2-0 against Shorter.
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The Owls will enjoy a week off before returning to action March 13 against Charleston Southern to open Big South Conference action. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Fifth Third Bank Stadium
What Coach Bohannon Had to Say
"It was great to be back at The Bank, it's been a long time. I thought the crowd was good considering we had limited capacity. I saw a good amount in the student section, very appreciative of them as well. I think it very obvious that we didn't play very well today. I didn't coach very well and we didn't play very well today, to be honest with you it looked like practice if you want to know the truth. But like I told the kids, we are going to celebrate wins because they don't come easy, but it is nowhere near what our standards are."