CONWAY, S.C. – Kennesaw State football fell short in its first bowl game in program history, dropping a 41-6 decision to Western Michigan at Brooks Stadium in the 2025 Myrtle Beach Bowl on Friday afternoon.
 
The Conference USA Champion Owls (10-4) were unable to overcome a quick deficit in the first quarter, falling behind by 27 after 15 minutes to the MAC Champion Broncos (10-4).
 
KSU struggled to slow Western Michigan down early as they averaged 8.1 yards per play in the first half before being limited in the second half to just 5.4. Meanwhile, offensively, the Owls found momentum in spurts, but four turnovers stymied the efforts.
 
The Owls were able to strike through on the scoreboard when quarterback Amari Odom found a streaking Javon Rogers for a program-record 82-yard touchdown catch – the first TD of Rogers' career. Rogers finished the game with 111 receiving yards – the 13^th in program history.
 
Another bright spot offensively was the play of running back Chase Belcher, who turned in a career-high 148 yards on 16 carries. With an average of 9.2 yards per carry, Belcher did not record a negative run on the day.
 
On defense, Kennesaw State forced two turnovers of their own, as JeRico Washington Jr. forced his second fumble of the season in the second quarter (recovered by Milon Jones), before Caleb Offord recorded his first interception of the season, taking it away from the 2-yard line.
 
CUSA Co-Defensive Player of the Year Baron Hopson led the game with 12 tackles, including 0.5 for loss, which gives him nine games in 2025 with double-digit tackles – good for third-most nationally in FBS (10 – Quinton Urwiler, Northern Illinois; Owen Long, Colorado State).
 
Kennesaw State finished the season 10-4, giving the Owls their best season since fall 2021 and just one win shy of the record for most wins in a program's second year of reclassification from FCS to FBS.

Postgame Notes:

Team Notes

• Kennesaw State finishes the season with a final record of 10-4, which ties for the second-best record by a team in its second year of reclassification from FCS to FBS in NCAA history.
• Kennesaw State finishes with its best final record since it finished 11-2 in 2021.
• Kennesaw State moves to 6-5 all-time in postseason games.
• Kennesaw State moves to 0-1 against Western Michigan all-time.

 
Individual Notes

• Sr. RB Chase Belcher turned in a career game, taking 16 carries for a career-high 148 rushing yards. He averaged a whopping 9.2 yards per carry.
• Belcher's 148 yards mark the Owls' fourth 100-yard rushing game this season, Belcher's second of the season, and KSU's 62^nd all-time in program history.
• So. WR Javon Rogers hauled in his first career touchdown reception on a career-long 82-yard bomb from r-So. QB Amari Odom. The 82-yard completion was the longest in program history.
• His 111 receiving yards mark the fifth 100-yard receiving game for the Owls this season and 13^th in program history.
• The five 100-yard receiving games for KSU in a single season is a program record (prev. four - 2016).
• r-So. DB JeRico Washington Jr. forced his fifth fumble of his career and second of the season in the second quarter. Sr. DB Milon Jones recovered the fumble – the first of the season for him and second of his career.
• Sr. DB Caleb Offord picked off his first pass of the season on the 2-yard line before returning it to the 14. His fourth-quarter interception was the third of his career.

The Owls Fund
 
The Owls Fund is the primary fundraising arm of Kennesaw State Athletics with the goal of supporting our student-athletes, coaches and each of our 18 NCAA Division I programs. Through initiatives such as Legacy Lockers, the Dot Martin Scholarship Golf Classic, sport-specific giving opportunities, general donations and season tickets, The Owls Fund connects fans with KSU's programs and student-athletes. Members receive exclusive benefits such as hospitality seating areas and events at Kennesaw State home games, and more. Join The Owls Fund here and discover more opportunities on how you can support Kennesaw State Athletics.
 
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