EL PASO, TEXAS – Kennesaw State football put up 240 yards of offense in the second half alone to fight back into the game and force overtime, but ultimately dropped the heartbreaker, 43-35, to UTEP on Saturday night at the Sun Bowl.
 
Qua Ashley scored the first of his two touchdowns on the day in the first half for the Owls (1-8, 1-4 Conference USA) when he took back a 97-yard kickoff for six in the first quarter – his second of the season.
 
Trailing 14-7 at the half, KSU stormed out of the intermission for a two-play scoring drive, connecting on a 60-yard strike from quarterback Davis Bryson to wideout Christian Moss for his second receiving TD of the season.
 
The back-and-forth affair continued as the Miners (2-8, 2-5 CUSA) would answer each of KSU's attacks the rest of the way. Running back Michael Benefield took in a 5-yard rush to cap off the third quarter before Bryson tied the game at 28-28 with 2:43 remaining in the game on a 14-yard keeper.
 
In its first overtime game in two years, Kennesaw State opened the first possession with a wide-open wheel route from Ashley, who hauled in the 25-yard reception from Bryson.
 
UTEP then responded on a 2-yard touchdown pass of its own to force a second overtime. The Miners then scored the eventual game-winner on a 16-yard pass.
 
Defensively, the Owls were led by a career day from linebacker Donelius Johnson, who turned in a whopping 15 stops (eight solo) as well as a half-sack. Behind him, Milon Jones and Jordan Miles also recorded nine tackles – Miles' total a career high.
 
Both JeRico Washington Jr. and Juandarion Silas forced fumbles on the day, with Silas' getting recovered by freshman Jaiden Kimble.
 
Ashley finished with 184 all-purpose yards, recording 19 rushing yards, 52 receiving yards and 113 kickoff return yards.
 
Kennesaw State returns home for its final two home games of the season, hosting Sam Houston (Nov. 16) and FIU (Nov. 23). Kickoff for next Saturday is set for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and the KSU Owl Network.