KENNESAW, Ga. – Michael Benefield and Qua Ashley combined for 334 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, but Kennesaw State football dropped a 63-24 decision to Jacksonville State on Friday night in its Conference USA debut at Fifth Third Stadium.
 
In just its fifth game as part of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the Owls (0-5, 0-1 CUSA) fought back from a 21-3 deficit to score back-to-back touchdowns in the second quarter to pull within four points heading into intermission.
 
Ashley breathed life into KSU in the second quarter, taking back a 93-yard kickoff return – the first by an Owl since 2018 – before quarterback Davis Bryson connected on a 7-yard rope back across the field to tight end Carson Kent – their second hookup of the season.
 
Defensive lineman Adam Watkins then blocked the Gamecocks' (2-3, 1-0 CUSA) buzzer-beating field goal attempt to end the half strong and keep the momentum.
 
Jacksonville State, however, would storm out of the break to respond, scoring 28 unanswered points to put the game out of reach.
 
Benefield stepped up offensively to try to stymie some of the Gamecocks momentum, recording 83 of his career-high 112 rushing yards in the second half, including a 1-yard rushing touchdown – his first of the season – in the fourth quarter to cap a drive that began with him ripping off a 59-yard scamper up the middle.
 
The Atlanta native's rushing output was the most surrendered by Jacksonville State this season.
 
Ashley's strong night was highlighted by a school-record 156 kickoff return yards to go along with 66 rushing yards. The redshirt sophomore averaged a whopping 39 yards per return for the game.
 
Through the air, Kennesaw State recorded 81 passing yards, hitting true freshman Jaden Robinson for two passes and 36 yards, as well as a 26-yard completion to Blake Bohannon. But three interceptions against a team that ranked top-35 nationally entering the weekend and second in CUSA in passes intercepted thwarted the passing gameplan.
 
Defensive back Milon Jones remained a bright spot for the Owls, logging double-digit tackles for the second-straight week (12) to go along with the first fumble recovery of his career. He became the first Owl to have back-to-back 10-tackle games since Evan Thompson in 2021.

Linebacker Donelius Johnson also had a fine game, making eight tackles to go along with his first-career forced fumble, while Garland Benyard, Jalen Barnum and Jayven Williams all finished with six tackles on the game.
 
Tyler Huff led the way for Jax State, recording 193 passing yards and 176 yards and three TDs on the ground.
 
Kennesaw State enters a mini-bye week as it prepares for Conference USA's midweek slate that has the Owls playing three-straight games during the week. KSU heads back on the road to face Middle Tennessee on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. and will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network and the KSU Owls Network.

Postgame Notes

Team Notes 

• Kennesaw State fall to 0-5. 

• Kennesaw State moves to 3-2 against Jacksonville State all-time. 

• Kennesaw State moves to 44-12 inside Fifth Third Stadium. 

• Kennesaw State moves to 16-6 against conference opponents all-time in Fifth Third Stadium.  

• Kennesaw State finished with season-highs offensively, logging 270 yards of offense, including a season-high 189 yards on the ground. 

• Kennesaw State has now scored in all 106 games in its program history. 

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Individual Notes 

• R-So. RB Qua Ashley's 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was the first kickoff returned for six by Kennesaw State since Darnell Holland returned one 84 yards against Campbell (Nov. 3, 2018).  

• Ashley's return is the longest kickoff return since Isaac Foster's 100-yard TD return at Gardner-Webb (Oct. 13, 2018). He also set a KSU single-game record for most kickoff return yards in a single game with 156. 

• Ashley finished with a career-high 16 carries for 66 rushing yards (a part of 222 total all-purpose yards). 

• R-Sr. RB Michael Benefield logged a career-high 112 yards rushing, Kennesaw State's first 100-yard game since Benefield achieved the feat on Oct. 28, 2023 against Lincoln. 

• R-Fr. DB JeRico Washington Jr.'s forced fumble in the second quarter was the first of his career. Jr. DB Milon Jones recovered the fumble, which was the first of his career.  

• Jones also set a new career high in tackles for the second-straight week, making 12 stops on the night (prev. 10 vs. UT Martin (Sept. 28, 2024). He became the first Owl to have back-to-back 10-tackle games since Evan Thompson in 2021. 

• R-Jr. DL Adam Watkins blocked his first career kick on JSU's field goal attempt to end the first half. 

• R-Jr. K Austin Welch is now 8-for-8 facing the uprights this season, the only player in Kennesaw State history to make each of his first career field goals. 

• R-Fr. WR Navelle Dean made his first career start. 

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