By: Andrew Clausen
DALLAS – Kennesaw State football redshirt sophomore
Davis Bryson and redshirt juniors
Tyler Hallum and
Austin Welch have been named the Conference USA Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for their roles in the Owls' thrilling 27-24 win over previously undefeated Liberty on Wednesday.
Leading KSU to a season-high 323 yards of offense, quarterback Bryson connected on his first eight passes and finished 16-of-20 for 189 yards and a touchdown – a 41-yard strike to
Christian Moss in the opening quarter – for the third-highest quarterback passing grade (92.5) in the nation for Week 9, according to
Pro Football Focus. Bryson's efficiency set the single-game program record for completion percentage (80.0).
His PFF overall offensive grade also topped CUSA and ranked eighth nationally at 90.1. His NFL passer rating would've been a conference-best 122.7 for Week 9.
Defensive back Hallum provided lockdown coverage in the victory, finishing with six tackles, but more importantly, amassed a career-best three pass breakups, including a drive-killing, acrobatic interception in the second quarter – the first of his career and a SportsCenter Top 10 play. Of the nine times his receiver was targeted, only three receptions were made, tying for a league-best 33.3-percent reception rate among cornerbacks in Conference USA.
Overall, the KSU defense held Liberty's top running back to just 37 yards and its passing game to completing just 55 percent of its passes with an interception. Liberty rushed for just 180 yards as well, its lowest total for the season and only the second time in the last two seasons being held to 180 or less – the other coming in last season's Fiesta Bowl against Oregon.
Kicker Welch continued to have ice in his veins on Wednesday, connecting on 31- and 41-yard field goals in the fourth quarter to make it a two-score game and keep the Flames at bay. With a late fourth-quarter score by Liberty, Welch's 41-yard field goal proved to be the game-winner for the Owls.
The two field goals pushed Welch out to 11-for-11 on the season, making him one of just three kickers in FBS with a 1.000 field goal percentage on more than 11 kicks – joining Alex Raynor (Kentucky), Ben Sauls (Pitt) and Jonah Delange (UAB). Welch also filled in on kickoff duty due to injury, booming six kicks for three touchbacks in addition to his place-kicking duties.
The Owls return to work in just two days, heading out on the road to face Western Kentucky on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
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