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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State football secured a double-overtime victory over North Alabama by a score of 40-34 on Saturday night inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The Owls (2-3, 1-1 ASUN Conference) collected their 13th-straight win at home and improve to a perfect 3-0 in series history over the Lions (1-4, 0-1 ASUN).

With the ball on the one-yard line and trailing 27-20 with 21 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Kennesaw State quarterback Xavier Shepherd found receiver Isaac Foster in the back of the end zone for a touchdown reception to help send the game into overtime.  

In the initial overtime period, UNA got the ball first and scored on its third play. Kennesaw State forced a second overtime when Xavier Hill jumped in the end zone to pull down his first touchdown catch of the season on a 10-yard pass from Shepherd.

As the second overtime began, Foster exploded to the outside for a 12-yard touchdown run to put Kennesaw State ahead by six. The Owls missed a two-point conversion and looked to their defense to seal the game.

For the second-straight game at home, the KSU defense walked it off with a big play to secure the victory. On fourth-and-long, Markeith Montgomery broke-up a deep pass to give the Owls their first conference win of the season. Montgomery led the team with eight tackles (three solo) on the evening.

Shepherd led the offense with two rushing touchdowns and ended the day with 102 rushing yards on 34 carries. Early in the third quarter, the Owls' signal-caller scored a five-yard rushing touchdown for the 27th of his career. This moved Shepherd past Darnell Holland into second place in the KSU record book for career rushing touchdowns.

Through the air, Shepherd finished 13-of-18 with 172 passing yards. His 13 completed passes set a new career high.

Foster added 36 rushing yards on six attempts while scoring the go-ahead touchdown. The senior also added five receptions for a career-high 76 yards, including a career-long 40-yarder, and one touchdown.

UNA connected on a 26-yard field goal to jump ahead 3-0 after its first possession. The Owls answered with their longest scoring drive of the season, an 18-play, 75-yard trip capped by a two-yard touchdown run from Shepherd, who came off the bench midway through the drive.

On the ensuing possesion, Jalen Barnum tipped a third-down pass from the Lion quarterback that was picked off by a leaping Garland Benyard. The pick marked the first of the year for Benyard and the third consecutive game the Kennesaw State defense forced an interception.  

The offense took over on the North Alabama 34-yard line. KSU recorded one first down on the drive, before Conor Cummins blasted a 36-yard field goal to put the team ahead 10-3. The field goal was the first of Cummins' collegiate career.

The Lions converted a field goal to pull the score to 10-6 and were driving with two minutes left in the first half. On a second down pass attempt, Montrel Jenkins blasted the UNA quarterback to record his first strip-sack on the season. A diving Kelcy Allen recovered the ball and gave the KSU defense its second turnover of the game.

Kennesaw State got on the board quickly after the half, scoring a touchdown in only five plays. Yesiah Clemons broke down the middle of the field for a career-long 36-yard rush that moved the ball to the UNA five-yard line. On the next play, Shepherd dove into the end zone for his second score of the evening to extend the KSU lead to 17-6.

A 62-yard touchdown pass from UNA pulled the score to 17-13. The Lions threatened again on their next possession before a Dylan Hand diving interception ended the drive. The pick was the second of Hand's career, with his first coming last season at Robert Morris (Nov. 6).

UNA re-took the lead with 11:38 remaining in the fourth quarter. Lion running back ShunDerrick Powell powered his way in from two yards out to give UNA its first lead since the opening quarter.  

Shepherd and the offense answered with an impressive drive, highlighted by a 13-yard reception from Foster and a 26-yard reception from Hill. On fourth-and-five, Cummins booted a 26-yard field goal to tie things up with 5:45 remaining.

Kennesaw State football is back at Fifth Third Bank Stadium next week for an ASUN matchup against Central Arkansas. The game will be the first in series history between the Owls and Bears, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. Click here to purchase tickets.

Post-Game Notes

• The Owls' improve their win streak at Fifth Third Bank Stadium to 13 games, the second-longest streak in program history.
• Kennesaw State has scored at least one point in 86 consecutive games and has reached double-digits in 64 straight.
• The Owls have now rushed for 150+ yards in 73 consecutive games against FCS opponents.
• The KSU defense has now recorded an interception in three-straight games.
• Kennesaw State has had a player rush for 100+ yards in three consecutive games.
• KSU has won each of the last 42 games when it scores 32 points and is 45-1 all-time when reaching that mark.
• Quarterback Xavier Shepherd registered his fourth career game with 100+ rushing yards and set a new career-high with 13 completions.
• Running back Isaac Foster set career-highs in receiving yards (76) and longest reception (40).
• Kicker Conor Cummins connected on field goals of 36 and 26 yards for the first two field goals of his collegiate career. 
• Yesiah Clemons set a new career-long with a 36-yard run in the third quarter.

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