BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Despite 98 rushing yards from running back Michael Benefield, Kennesaw State football was unable to earn its second-straight win, falling 31-14 to Western Kentucky on Wednesday night at Houchens-Smith Stadium.
Redshirt senior Benefield evened the score for the Owls (1-7, 1-3 Conference USA) in the first quarter 7-7 on a 37-yard burst up the middle, but the Hilltoppers (6-2, 4-0 CUSA) scored two more times in the quarter to jump out to a 21-7 lead.
The KSU defense would fare better the rest of the way, holding WKU to just 10 points over the remaining three quarters, but the Owls' offense struggled to find its footing across the same stretch, failing to find the endzone until the fourth quarter on a 20-yard run by redshirt sophomore QB Davis Bryson.
Bryson finished 13-for-26 for 96 yards and a tough-luck interception. Behind Benefield on the ground was Qua Ashley, who amassed 101 all-purpose yards (38 rushing, 3 receiving, 60 kickoff return), while tight end Carson Kent led the receivers with 34 yards.
Defensively, redshirt junior DB Tyler Hallum tied his career high with seven tackles, while DB JeRico Washington Jr., DB Isaac Paul and LB Donelius Johnson all chipped in five tackles apiece.
Having played its final midweek contest of the season, the Owls remain on the road when they travel to El Paso, Texas to take on UTEP on Saturday, Nov. 9. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and KSU Owls Network.
Postgame Notes
Team Notes
- Kennesaw State fell to 1-7.
- Kennesaw State fell to 0-1 all-time against Western Kentucky.
- KSU's first-quarter touchdown was the team's first scoring drive of three plays or less this season, having found paydirt on a 44-yard drive on three plays.
- Kennesaw State kept WKU off the board to open the second half, marking the Owls' third-straight game not allowing points to an opposing team to start the third quarter.
- Kennesaw State converted on its first onside kick attempt of the season.
- Kennesaw State has now scored in all 109 games in its program history.
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Individual Notes
- R-Sr. RB Michael Benefield launched his third rushing score of the season in the first quarter via a 37-yard burst through the middle, his seventh rushing TD in an Owl uniform.
- Benefield finished just 2 yards shy of his sixth career 100-yard rushing game.
- R-So. QB Davis Bryson recorded his third career rushing touchdown and his first of the season on his 20-yard scamper in the fourth quarter.
- R-So. DL Ugonna Nwoha recorded his first career forced fumble in the second quarter and also marked his first sack of 2024 on the play.
- R-Jr. DB Tyler Hallum tied his career high with 7 tackles on the night (prev. at Tennessee Tech – Sept. 23, 2023).
- R-Jr. WR Christian Moss made his first career start.
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