SPRINGFIELD, MO. – Kennesaw State football dropped its third-straight heartbreaker on, falling 24-21 to Missouri State on Wednesday night at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.
The Owls (1-5, 0-2 CUSA) got 285 yards of offense and two scores out of quarterback
Rickie Collins, 135 receiving yards and a score from wideout
Dylan Gary, and 12 tackles, two solo tackles for loss and two QB hurries from
Tywon Christopher, but it wouldn't be enough in the hard-fought loss.
The Bears (2-4, 1-1 CUSA) held the ball 18 minutes in the opening half, but KSU wouldn't falter, holding them to just six points heading into the final drive.
With just 40 seconds left in the half, the Owls reeled off a 6-play, 74-yard sprint down the field as Collins connected with Gary from 11 yards out at the buzzer to take a 7-6 lead at the half.
The two teams battled back and forth, trading the next four touchdowns, as Collins found paydirt on a 9-yard scamper for his fifth rushing TD of the season in the third quarter before
Boogie Woods III powered it home from 1 yard out with 6:06 remaining in the game.
Missouri State had the final drive after Woods scored, burning the rest of the clock off before connecting on the go-ahead field goal from 22 yards out.
En route to his 135 receiving yards, Gary tied the program record with 10 catches on the night. Behind him,
Javon Rogers also had a fine outing, hauling in six passes for 79 yards on the night.
In addition to Christopher's defensive performance, linebacker
Baron Hopson and defensive back
Tay'vion Lawson also shined. Hopson turned in nine tackles and a QB hurry on the night, while Lawson finished with seven tackles and his second-straight game with an interception.
The Owls get an extra day of rest when they return home next week to host Liberty on Thursday, Oct. 22 at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network and KSU Owl Network.
Postgame Notes
Team Notes
- Kennesaw State falls to 0-2 in Conference USA.
- Kennesaw State drops to 1-5 overall.
- Kennesaw State drops to 2-1 against Missouri State.
- Kennesaw State moves to 9-3 against Conference USA foes under head coach Jerry Mack.
- Kennesaw State drops five-straight games for the first time in 740 days (Aug. 31, 2024-Oct. 4, 2024).
- Kennesaw State moves to 4-2 since 2024 in games where their defense records an interception in the first half.
Individual Notes
- So. DB Tay'vion Lawson hauled in an interception for the second-straight week with one with 5:27 left in the first quarter. It's the second of his career.
- Lawson finished with seven tackles for the game, tying his career high set earlier this year (Georgia State).
- Jr. DL Jaiden Grimes forced the first fumble of his career with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.
- r-Jr. WR Dylan Gary hauled in his second touchdown catch of the season at the buzzer to finish the first half.
- Gary finished with a program-record-tying 10 receptions on the night for 135 receiving yards (prev. 10 by Zion Booker vs. Tennessee on Sept. 19).
- With 135 receiving yards, Gary became the second Owl this season to surpass 100 receiving yards
- Gary's night marked the 16th time an Owl passed the century mark through the air.
- r-Jr. QB Rickie Collins scampered in from 9 yards out with 6:08 left in the third quarter for his fifth rushing TD of the season and the sixth of his career.
- r-So. LB Tywon Christopher has turned in two-straight multiple TFL performances after not having one in his career. He finished with 12 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss – including two huge solo tackles for loss on the boundary.
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