Kennesaw State University Athletics

KENNESAW, Ga. — A turnover with 19 seconds left thwarted a would-be game-winning drive as Kennesaw State football fell 27-26 to Jax State in a back-and-forth Conference USA opener on Wednesday night at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium.

The Owls were down 24-23 with 6:18 to play and the Gamecocks poised to chew up the clock when Tywon Christopher jarred the ball loose and into the hands of Baron Hopson at the KSU 40-yard line.

With new life on offense, the Owls marched into field goal position with a 29-yard completion from Rickie Collins to Brayden Munroe. Moments later, a 28-yard field goal from Daniel Kinney put KSU up 26-24 with 2:17 remaining.

Jax State received renewed hope of a go-ahead score on its ensuing drive when an ill-timed defensive holding penalty assessed against the Owls turned a strong fourth-down stop into a fresh set of downs for the visitors.

While KSU held the Gamecocks to a field goal, the penalty proved costly as Jax State regained the lead on a 33-yard make with 57 seconds to play.

The Owls' last-gasp drive was cut short when Jax State picked off Collins at the KSU 45-yard line.

KSU outgained the Gamecocks 411-385, including 118-74 on the ground. Jax State went 5-for-5 on its red zone trips and KSU 5-for-6, with its one empty trip resulting in an interception in the end zone.

The two teams combined for 26 penalties for 230 yards, with the Owls hampered by 15 for 137 yards.

Collins completed 24-of-34 pass attempts for 293 yards with a touchdown. On the ground, Collins scampered for a career-high 62 yards on 15 carries and a score. Munroe led the Owls with 159 receiving yards on seven grabs - finishing second all-time in receiving yards in program history.

The KSU defense was led by Christopher's forced fumble and 15 tackles, including 10 solo and two for loss. Defensive back Tay'vion Lawson recorded four stops with an interception and pass breakup.

The Owls took a 3-0 lead with 8:16 to play in the first quarter after a 15-play 73-yard drive. Jax State responded in the early second quarter with a 14-play touchdown drive for a 7-3 lead.

Collins and Munroe connected for a 70-yard gain on 3^rd and 11 to put the Owls in scoring position on their next drive. Two plays later, Collins finished the job with a 2-yard rushing touchdown. A missed PAT put KSU in front 9-7 with 12:19 before the half.

The Gamecocks found the end zone again for a 14-9 lead, but the Owls struck back and took a 16-14 lead to the locker room as Collins connected with Javon Rogers on a 5-yard touchdown completion with 23 ticks left in the half.

KSU extended its lead to 23-14 with 1:30 left in the third after an eight-play, 74-yard drive ended in a Latrelle Murrell 4-yard rushing score.

Jax State clawed back within a score with a touchdown in the waning seconds of the third and went in front 24-23 on a field goal make with 9:23 to go.

The Owls return to Weekday CUSA action on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Missouri State. The game is broadcast live on CBS Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. ET.
 

Postgame Notes 

Team Notes 

• Kennesaw State moves to 1-4 overall.  

• Kennesaw State moves to 0-1 in Conference USA play. 

• Kennesaw State drops to 4-4 all-time against Jax State. 

• Kennesaw State moves to 9-2 against Conference USA opponents under head coach Jerry Mack. 

• Kennesaw State lost back-to-back home games for the first time in 733 days (lost 24-13 to UT Martin on Sept. 28, 2024 and lost 63-24 to Jax State on Oct. 4, 2024). 

• Kennesaw State lost four-straight games for the first time under Mack. 

• Kennesaw State suffered only its eighth loss in 19 games under Mack. 

• Kennesaw State's opening drive of 15 plays, 73 yards and 8:16 minutes is the second-longest opening drive of a game (by plays and time) in program history. 

• Kennesaw State's 70-yard pass from Rickie Collins to Brayden Munroe in the second quarter was the Owls' longest play from scrimmage in 2026. 

• With r-Jr. RB Latrelle Murrell's rushing touchdown, Kennesaw State now has three players with 3+ rushing TD's this season – most in CUSA and second nationally. The only FBS team with more such players this season is Alabama (4 players with 3+ rush TD). 

• Kennesaw State is 9-3 with 3+ different players scoring a scrimmage touchdown since 2024. 

• Kennesaw State is 9-1 when leading after three quarters under Mack.
   

Individual Notes 

• r-Jr. QB Rickie Collins powered it into the endzone from 2 yards out with 12:19 left in the second quarter. It marked the fourth rushing TD of the season for Collins and fifth of his career. 

• Collins now has three games with a passing and rushing touchdown this season, tied for the most in CUSA (with Jax State's Caden Creel). 

• Collins' 139 passing yards in the first half was his second-most first-half passing totals this season. 

• Collins completed 13-of-16 passes (.813) in the first half, his highest completion percentage of any half for his career (min. 10 attempts). 

• Collins' 293 passing yards marks the fifth 200-yard passing game of his career and second as an Owl. It marks the 20th 200-yard passing game in program history.  

• Collins' 62 rushing yards were a career high (prev. 57 at SMU (Oct. 4, 2025*)). 

• The 70-yard completion from Collins to Munroe marked both a career-long pass from Collins (prev. 52 vs. SMU in 2025) and a career-long catch from Munroe (prev. 60 vs. Chadron State in 2025*). 

• With 159 yards of receiving, Munroe becomes the seventh Owl to haul in 100 yards through the air in program history. It marks the 14th time the feat has been accomplished overall at Kennesaw State. 

• Munroe's 159 receiving yards is the most by a KSU receiver since Justin Sumpter had 189 yards at Duquesne (Sept. 24, 2016). 

• So. DB Tay'vion Lawson hauled in his first career interception with 11:38 left in the third quarter. 

• So. TE Jamari Harrold caught a 23-yard reception from Collins in the third quarter – his longest catch of his career. 

• r-Sr. DL Ugonna Nwoha set a career high with 2.0 tackles for loss and tied his career high with 1.0 sacks. 

• r-So. LB Tywon Christopher broke his career high with 15 tackles on the night (prev. 12, twice – last at Liberty (Nov. 29, 2025)). He also broke his career high with 2.0 tackles for loss (prev. 1.0, 4x – last at Liberty (Nov. 29, 2025)). 

• r-Sr. P Matt McKenzie boomed a 61-yard punt in the second quarter, setting a new career-long.
   

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