Box Score HTML |
Box Score PDF |
Postgame Press Conference |
Photo Gallery |
Buy Tickets |
2023 Media Guide
KENNESAW, Ga – In front of a record-breaking crowd of 10,108 fans on Thursday night, Kennesaw State football improved to 8-1 all-time in home openers with a 38-7 win over Tusculum. The victory improved the Owls (1-0) to 42-7 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium under head coach
Brian Bohannon.
The KSU student section also set a new student attendance record with 5,415 at the event.
Jonathan Murphy had a strong night leading the KSU offense and became the fifth 1,000-yard passer in Kennesaw State history. The Los Angeles native ended the evening 12-for-18 with 219 yards. Murphy also broke a school record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception with 94.
The Owls' signal-caller also led the team in rushing yards as he collected 90 yards on 13 attempts. Murphy dazzled the crowd with an elusive 55-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
The KSU offense set a new program record tonight with eight players recording at least one reception. The team was led by
Carson Kent who caught three passes for a team-leading 67 yards.
Defensively, the Owls set a school record for turnovers and interceptions in a home opener. The defense forced five turnovers against the Pioneers and swiped four interceptions. The five total turnovers ties a school record which last occurred in 2022 at UT-Martin.
Jalen Barnum led the KSU defense with nine total tackles (one solo).
Markeith Montgomery and
Cameron Donald each added seven total tackles in the contest.
In the first start of his collegiate career,
JeRico Washington Jr. swiped two interceptions. The defensive back became the first freshman with multiple interceptions in his debut in program history.
On the first play from scrimmage, the KSU defense recovered a fumble at the Tusculum 22-yard line. Freshman
Donelius Johnson, in his first career start in the contest, fell on the ball to give the Owls their first turnover of the season.
The Pioneers got on the board first with a 15-yard touchdown reception from Ethan Stinnett. A converted point after moved the visitors ahead, 7-0.
Kennesaw State evened the score to start the second quarter when Murphy found
Tykeem Wallace over the middle for a 54-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown was the first of Wallace's career and tied things up, 7-7.
The Owls started the next drive on their own one-yard line. A tough rush from
Michael Benefield on third down moved the chains before Murphy found Kent on a 35-yard strike that pushed the ball into Pioneer territory.
On fourth down,
Conor Cummins moved KSU ahead when he connected for a 33-yard field goal that gave Kennesaw State a 10-7 advantage. This capped a nine play, 83-yard drive.
Tusculum kept the ball for two plays until
Sidney Porter swiped KSU's first interception of the season. The Owls' safety tracked a deep pass along the left side of the field to provide a big spark in his Kennesaw State debut.
With less than a minute remaining in the first half, Washington Jr. dove in front of a Tusculum pass to record the third turnover of the half for the Owl defense. This set a new program record for turnovers forced in a season opener and kept KSU in front at halftime.
KSU scored again with 3:25 remaining in the third quarter to push its lead to 17-7. Murphy broke two tackles en route to a 55-yard touchdown run that marked the 21
st rushing score of his career.
Washington Jr. continued his lock-down defense when he picked off another pass with 1:52 left in the third. This marked the Owls third interception of the game and set a new program record for team interceptions in a season opener.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Murphy connected on another deep ball of 55-yards to
Blake Bohannon that increased the Owls' advantage to 24-7. The completion tied Murphy's career long which he set in 2021 at Robert Morris.
Deontre Morris picked off Kennesaw State's fourth pass of the night and returned it all the way to the one-yard line where
Jordan Miles scooped and ran it into the endzone for a score. This moved KSU ahead 31-7.
Davis Bryson entered at quarterback for KSU's final possession of the night and scored his first collegiate touchdown. Bryson ran into the endzone from 21 yards out to push the Owls' lead to 38-7, which held as the final.
In its nine home openers, KSU has outscored opponents by a margin of 355-111. The victory also gives the Owls their sixth-straight win in a home opener and their 23
rd consecutive non-conference win inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
KSU takes to the road Saturday, Sept. 9 against Chattanooga. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET in the first matchup with the Mocs.
Season tickets are still available for the 2023 season and feature discounted concessions, season long parking pass discounts and first right of refusal for seats heading into Conference USA in 2024. Click
here for more information.
For more information on Kennesaw State athletics, follow @KennesawStFB on Twitter or like Kennesaw State Football on Facebook and Instagram.
