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KENNESAW, Ga – Kennesaw State football earned its 12th consecutive win inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium with a 24-22 victory over Wofford in the 2022 home opener. With the victory, the Owls (1-2) improved to 4-0 in the all-time series against the Terriers (0-4).

Tonight's win moved Kennesaw State to 7-1 all-time in its home openers. The team has outscored opponents 317-104 in these contests and is 38-5 all-time at home under head coach Brian Bohannon.  

Wofford scored twice in the final frame to pull the game to 24-22. With the Terriers threatening and only seven seconds remaining, Joel Parker sacked the Wofford quarterback to ice the game for the Owls. The sack was the first of the year for Parker and ninth of his career.

The Owl offense collected 221 yards on the ground against the Terriers to mark the 18th consecutive time the team has rushed for over 200 yards at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Tonight's contest also marked the 70^th-straight game KSU has rushed for 150+ yards against FCS opponents.

Senior quarterback Jonathan Murphy made his first start of the season and led the Owls with 138 rushing yards on 28 attempts. He also went 11-of-14 through the air with 107 passing yards. Murphy's 138 rushing yards set a KSU record for rushing yards in a home opener passing Darnell Holland's 136 yards in 2018.

Markeith Montgomery moved into third place in the KSU record books with his sixth career interception. His 78-yard interception return was the longest in school history and marked the first defensive touchdown recorded by the Owls since April 3, 2021 (Bryson Armstrong vs. Robert Morris).

The KSU defense was led by Deontre Morris and William Jenkins who each set career highs with seven tackles (four solo). Morris also added a pass break-up and recorded his first career interception.

Wofford received the opening kick and scored on its first possession when running back David Legette found his way into the endzone on a three-yard rush. The Terriers missed the PAT to hold the score at 6-0.

The Owls answered with a 13-play, 75-yard drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Murphy. During the drive, Murphy exploded on a third-and-long for a 16-yard rush that moved the chains. The attempt pushed the quarterback over 1,000 rushing yards for his career and made him the seventh Owl in program history to achieve the milestone.

On the ensuing drive, Montgomery ignited the crowd at Fifth Third Bank Stadium with the longest interception return for a touchdown in Kennesaw State history. The senior jumped in front of a pass and ran it 78 yards to the house. The touchdown was the first of Montgomery's career and gave the Owls a 14-6 advantage.

Morris followed suit and swiped his first career interception in only the second start of his career. The sophomore safety picked off a Terrier pass attempt and returned the ball 26 yards to the KSU 46-yard line. The interception marked the first time the KSU defense posted multiple interceptions in a single game since Nov. 13, 2021 (at North Alabama).

The Owls went into halftime with a 14-9 lead but struck quick to begin the third quarter. Murphy started the frame with a 34-yard rush, the longest of the day for the KSU offense. He then found receiver Iaan Cousin for a 28-yard gain.

Cousin caught a career-high six passes in the contest for 56 yards. The junior was the first KSU receiver to catch six-or-more passes in a single game since Justin Sumpter in 2018.

On the sixth play after the half, Murphy found paydirt for his second rushing touchdown of the evening. This marked the quarterback's fourth career game with multiple rushing touchdowns with two being against the Terriers (2019 and 2022).

Kennesaw State took a 21-9 lead into the fourth quarter before Nathan Robertson blasted a 35-yard field goal to put KSU ahead 24-9.

KSU travels to Jacksonville State next week for the program's first ASUN Conference matchup in school history. The Owls are 3-0 in the all-time series with the Gamecocks, including last year's 31-6 victory at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

Season tickets are still on sale for the 2022 season and feature the most affordable purchasing options in KSU football history. New benefits include the first football concessions discount and the option to purchase a season-long parking pass. Click here to purchase today.

Post-Game Notes

• KSU improves to 7-1 all-time in its home openers.
• The Owls have won 12 straight games inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
• Kennesaw State football has outscored opponents 317-104 in home openers and is 38-5 all-time at home under head coach Brian Bohannon.  
• Quarterback Jonathan Murphy became the seventh player in Owl history to surpass the 1,000 career rushing yards mark.
• Kennesaw State has scored at least one point in 84 consecutive games and has reached double-digits in 62 straight.
• The Owls have now rushed for 150+ yards in 71 consecutive games against FCS opponents.
• Markeith Montgomery set a new school record for longest interception return with a 78-yard pick-six in the first quarter.
• Wide receiver Iaan Cousin caught a career-high six passes in the contest.
• Deontre Morris recorded his first career interception and set a new career-high with seven tackles (four solo).
• Jonathan Murphy's 138 rushing yards set a KSU record for rushing yards in a home opener passing Darnell Holland's 136 yards in 2018.

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