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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State football defeated Charleston Southern by a score of 30-20 on Saturday afternoon inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The Owls (4-4, 1-2 ASUN Conference) improve to 5-2 in the series with the Buccaneers (1-7, 1-2 Big South Conference) and have won each of the last five matchups against their former conference foe.

Markeith Montgomery made history today as he became the Kennesaw State record holder in career interceptions. At the start of the third quarter, the senior safety swiped his ninth career pick to move past Donte Blackmon and into sole possession of first place in the Owl record book. Montgomery ended the day with four tackles (all solo).

Xavier Shepherd led the offense going 11-of-25 through the air with 158 passing yards and one touchdown. The quarterback also added 62 rushing yards on 28 carries. Shepherd collected two rushing touchdowns in the contest and has totaled 31 for his career.  

Gabriel Benyard made an impact all over the field as the sophomore set a new single-game KSU record for punt return yards with 117. Benyard added two receptions for a team-high 61 yards and posted one receiving touchdown. He also contributed two rushes for 11 yards.

Defensively, Deontre Morris and Chance Gamble paved the way with seven total tackles. Travis Bell also put together a big game as the senior registered five tackles (two solo), 0.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.

Other notables were Charles Remy who recorded his first career sack and Jalen Barnum who ended with six tackles (three solo).

Carlos Allen halted Charleston Southern's first possession when the junior registered a strip-sack and fell on the loose ball at the CSU 31-yard line. The sack was Allen's first on the season and second of his career. He ended the afternoon with two tackles (one solo).

The Owls' offense stalled on the ensuing drive, but recorded points when Conor Cummins connected for a career-long field goal. The sophomore blasted a 46-yarder that gave KSU an early 3-0 advantage. Cummins' field goal was only two yards shy of tying the Kennesaw State program record set by Nathan Robertson (48 yards at Robert Morris, 2021).

With 7:36 remaining in the first half, Kennesaw State got the ball on its 34-yard line after a 21-yard punt return from Benyard.

The offense continued with a six-play drive that featured a 30-yard catch from Chavis Marshall followed by a 37-yard touchdown catch from Benyard. The receiving touchdown was the first of the season for Benyard and increased the Owls' lead to 10-0.

Charleston Southern got on the board with a 25-yard pick six that pulled the score to 10-7.

With 1:02 left in the second quarter, Shepherd and the offense moved the ball 51 yards to the CSU 12-yard line. Cummins connected on a 29-yard field goal that pushed the score to 13-7 with 10 seconds remaining in the half.

The Kennesaw State defense had an impressive showing in the first two quarters. The team held Charleston Southern to 89 yards of total offense and forced five punts through the first two frames. This marked KSU's fewest yards allowed in a first half this season.

Five plays into the third quarter, Montgomery swiped his history-making interception. The senior safety flew in front of a Buccaneer pass attempt and collected his ninth career pick to set a program record. The interception also marked his fourth on the season, setting a new single-season high for the senior.

Montgomery returned the ball 35 yards to the CSU 10-yard line. Two plays later, Shepherd dove across the goal line for a one-yard rushing touchdown that put Kennesaw State up 20-7. The score marked the 30th career rushing touchdown for Shepherd.

Charleston Southern pulled the score to 20-14 when running back TJ Rush scored a 22-yard rushing touchdown with 1:50 left in the third quarter.

On its first drive of the final frame, Kennesaw State answered with a 12-play drive to make it a two-score ballgame. Shepherd found the end zone for the second time of the afternoon with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. This marked the seventh scoring drive of 11+ plays this season for the KSU offense.

The next possession ended with the Owl defense forcing its sixth punt of the afternoon to set up another KSU scoring drive. Cummins connected once again on a 46-yard field goal that marked his third converted kick of the day. His three successful kicks set a new single-game high for the kicker and moved the score to 30-14.

Charleston Southern scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to move the score to 30-20 which held as the final. With the win, the Owls secured their 22nd consecutive victory against non-conference teams inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

Kennesaw State football hits the road next Saturday for a non-conference matchup at No. 18 Tennessee Martin. The contest will be the first in series history between the Owls and Skyhawks, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. ET inside Hardy M. Graham Stadium.

Post-Game Notes

• Kennesaw State football improves to 25-1 all-time against non-conference teams inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
• Today's win marked the 22nd consecutive non-conference victory at home for KSU football. 
• The Owls have rushed for 150+ yards in 76 straight games vs. FCS opponents dating back to week 11 of the 2015 season.
• Kennesaw State has scored a point in 89 straight games and has reached double-digits in 67 consecutive contests.
• Senior Markeith Montgomery moved into sole possession of first place in the KSU record book for career interceptions (9).
• Gabriel Benyard set a new single-game KSU record for punt return yards with 117.
• Conor Cummins blasted a 46-yard field goal to set a new career long.
• Charles Remy recorded his first career sack in the contest.

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