SAN JOSE, Calif. – Despite forcing three turnovers in the first half, penalties and miscues stymied Kennesaw State football's momentum as it fell 31-10 to San Jose State on Saturday night at CEFCU Stadium.
 
The Owls (0-3) got off to a slow start in the first half, amassing just 79 yards of their eventual 192 total offense in the opening 30 minutes. KSU was, however, able to turn its first fumble recovery into the first points of the game in the first quarter when Austin Welch hit home a 32-yard field goal.
 
The Spartans (3-0) air attack accounted for 235 in the first half (355 total), but KSU's defense was able to bend, not break, holding the game to a two-score game (17-3) at the half.
 
After the intermission, Kennesaw State came out of the gates with a monstrous 18-play, 75-yard drive that spanned nearly 10 minutes and ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Preston Daniels to pull with seven. But a quick strike from San Jose State to respond and a fourth-quarter touchdown off a turnover pushed the game out of reach.
 
Quarterback Davis Bryson finished with 128 yards passing on 14-of-22 passing to end the game, while running back Qua Ashley hauled in four receptions for 51 yards to tie his career high. Michael Benefield just with 33 rushing yards on 12 carries.
 
Linebacker Donelius Johnson led the Owls with six tackles and a tackle for loss. Sidney Porter, JeRico Washington Jr., Isaac Paul and Juandarion Silas all finished with five tackles.
 
Washington, Tyler Hallum and long snapper Bryce Robinson each recorded their first forced fumbles of their career and Washington, Paul and Robinson with their first recoveries.
 
The Owls will enter a much-needed bye week before hosting UT Martin for Homecoming at Fifth Third Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and the KSU Owl Network.

Postgame Notes 

Team Notes 

• Kennesaw State fell to 0-3. 

• Kennesaw State has now scored in every game of its history, now at 104 games. 

• The Owls set a season-high for turnovers forced following a pair of fumble recoveries in the first quarter. 

• Saturday marked the first time KSU had forced multiple turnovers in a game since last season at Sam Houston (Nov. 4, 2023). 

• Kennesaw State fell to 9-2 when multiple players force a fumble. 

• KSU forced three fumbles for the fourth time in program history and the first time since Feb. 27, 2021 vs. Shorter. The Owls fell to 3-1 when forcing at least three fumbles. 

• Entering the game with 11 injured players listed as out, four defensive players and three offensive players set or tied career highs. 

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Individual Notes 

• R-Jr. kicker Austin Welch improved to 5-for-5 on field goal tries this season with a 32-yard make in the first quarter 

• R-Fr. DB Tyler Hallum's fumble force in the first quarter was the first of his career; r-Fr. DB Isaac Paul's fumble recovery was the first of his career. 

• R-So. LS Bryce Robinson's punchout and fumble recovery in the first quarter was the first of his collegiate career.  

• R-Fr. WR Navelle Dean's 37-yard reception in the second quarter was the first of his career. 

• R-So. RB Qua Ashley's 51 receiving yards tied his career high. 

• R-Jr. TE Jackson Manning made his first career start and hauled in his first career catch – a 6-yard reception. 

• R-Fr. DB JeRico Washington Jr.'s second-quarter forced fumble and recovery also marked the first of his career. 

• R-Sr. TE Preston Daniels' third quarter TD rush marked the ninth total touchdown of his Kennesaw State career. 

• R-So. QB Davis Bryson tied his career-high with 14 completions, a mark he set in game one at UTSA (Aug. 31).