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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State football dropped its final home game of the season to Austin Peay by a score of 31-14 on Saturday afternoon inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The Owls (5-5, 1-3 ASUN Conference) fall to 0-1 in the series with the Governors (7-3, 3-2 ASUN).

Xavier Shepherd led the offense with 96 rushing yards on 23 attempts. The quarterback recorded one rushing score in the first quarter for his 11th of the year. He also finished 3-of-9 passing for 47 yards.  

Defensively, Chance Gamble and Deontre Morris paved the way with eight tackles apiece. Morris also added one interception in the second quarter.

Other notables were Jahon Myers (five tackles, one sack), Desmond Scott (three tackles, one sack, one blocked field goal) and Garland Benyard (three tackles, one sack).

The Owls' first drive was methodical, moving the ball 66 yards on 15 plays. Down at the one-yard line, Shepherd fell into the end zone to give KSU an early 7-0 lead.

The scoring drive marked the seventh time in ten games Kennesaw State recorded points on its opening possession and was the 35th rushing touchdown of Shepherd's career.

The Governors threatened in the second quarter, but a diving interception by Morris halted the drive. Je'Cory Burks jumped and deflected a pass into the air which allowed Morris to slide under the ball and record the pick for a touchback.

Austin Peay tied things up on a rushing touchdown with 1:39 left in the half. A tricky reverse play saw running back Kelen Stewart fly around the outside for the 19-yard score.  

After a KSU three-and-out, the Governors got one final attempt to take the lead before the break. A penalty gave APU one untimed down where the Govs elected to attempt a go-ahead field goal.

On the snap, Scott broke through the line and blocked the first kick of the season for the Owls. The ball was recovered by Burks to end the quarter with the score tied, 7-7.

Austin Peay scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to take a 28-7 advantage.

Kennesaw State added points midway through the fourth quarter. Jonathan Murphy entered at quarterback and led the Owls on a 75-yard scoring drive. Murphy completed four passes and punched the ball into the end zone from three yards out for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season.

The Los Angeles native ended 5-of-10 passing with 61 yards. He also added 15 rushing yards on eight attempts with the one score.

With 3:59 left, the Govs kicked a field goal to increase their lead to 31-14 which held as the final.

KSU football is back in action next Saturday as the team travels to Eastern Kentucky for the final regular season game of the year. The Owls and Colonels will compete for the first time in series history, with kickoff set for 3:00 p.m.

Post-Game Notes

• The Owls have rushed for 150+ yards in 78 straight games vs. FCS opponents dating back to week 11 of the 2015 season.
• Kennesaw State has scored a point in 91 straight games and has reached double-digits in 69 consecutive contests.
• With the interception in the second quarter, the KSU defense has now forced a turnover in 17-straight games which marks the second-longest streak in program history (22).
• Desmond Scott blocked the first field goal of the season for the Owls' defense.
• Deontre Morris registered his fifth interception of the season which ties him for the lead team (Markeith Montgomery).
• Xavier Shepherd recorded the 35th rushing touchdown of his career.

 
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