Kennesaw State University Athletics

KENNESAW, Ga. – A record-setting night for Zion Booker wouldn't be enough as Kennesaw State football fell 42-9 to No. 15/14 Tennessee on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.

Booker broke the single-game reception record for the Owls (1-2), hauling in 10 catches for a game-high 78 yards.

The top-15 Vols (3-0) started the scoring with a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter that was aided by an ill-timed defensive penalty on a would-be fourth-down stop.

However, Kennesaw State punched right back, as quarterback Rickie Collins connected on his first four passes to kickstart a 13-play drive that ended with Knoxville-native kicker Daniel Kinney connecting on the first of three field goals on Saturday night – the first from 35 yards out.

Tennessee would reach the endzone on its next drive, but was held to a field goal and then was forced to punt on the ensuing drives before linebacker Kai Russell forced his first career fumble that was scooped up by Jaiden Grimes to again thwart the attack.

With another fumble forced in the second half, KSU has now forced a whopping six fumbles through three games.  

The Owls wouldn't be able to convert on the turnover, but would hold the Vols to a second field goal to keep the deficit to 21-3 heading into halftime.

Tennessee was able to return to the endzone twice in the third quarter before a final time in the fourth.

Kinney was once again sure-footed in the second half, connecting on 25- and 20-yard field goals in the fourth quarter for KSU.

For the Black and Gold, Collins finished 22-of-34 (.647) for 189 yards on the game, while also picking up 36 yards of rushing. The Owls tied the school record with 10 receivers hauling in receptions for the second time this season with Booker leading the way and Brayden Munroe finishing second with 34 receiving yards.

On the ground, Latrelle Murrell led the running backs with 31 yards on six carries.

Defensively, the Owls were led by linebacker Alfred Thomas, who reached double digits for the first time this season, finishing with 10 tackles on the night. Behind him was linebacker Tywon Christopher and defensive back Cam Miller, both with nine tackles apiece.

Defensive back Perry Fisher and linebacker Karson Moss also finished with eight tackles apiece, while linebacker Kai Russell stuffed the stat sheet, racking up seven tackles, a strip sack and two pass breakups on the night.

Kennesaw State will wrap up non-conference action when it travels for its second-straight road game, heading to Arkansas State on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and the KSU Owl Network.

Postgame Notes 

Team Notes 

• Kennesaw State drops to 1-2 to start the season for the ssecond consecutive year. 

• Kennesaw State moves to 0-4 against Power 4 opponents all-time. 

• Kennesaw State moves to 0-1 against the Southeastern Conference. 

• Kennesaw State drops back-to-back games for the first time in 378 days. It's the first back-to-back loss since falling to Wake Forest (Aug. 29) and Indiana (Sept. 6) in 2025. 

• Kennesaw State suffers only its sixth loss in 17 games under head coach Jerry Mack. 

• After struggling in third-down stops last week, Kennesaw State held Tennessee to 1-of-6 on third down conversions in the first half. The Vols finished 4-of-10 for the game – their lowest conversion percentage of the season after entering the weekend converting 52 percent of third downs. 

• Kennesaw State recovered a fumble in the second half – the defense's fifth takeaway of the season. 

• Kennesaw State then forced its sixth fumble of the season in the fourth quarter. 

• Kennesaw State had 10 different receivers record a reception, tying the program record for the second time this season (prev. West Georgia on Sept. 3). 

• Kennesaw State held Tennessee to 268 rushing yards and 446 yards of offense – both their lowest outputs of the season. Tennessee was averaging 314.0 rushing yards per game and 542.5 yards of offense entering Saturday. 

Individual Notes 

• Sr. WR Zion Booker hauled in a program-record 10 receptions on 13 targets for a game-high 78 receiving yards (prev. 8 by Justin Sumpter at Duquesne in 2016). It was also a career high (prev. 9, twice – last at East Carolina (Oct. 16, 2025).* 

• Knoxville native r-Fr. K Daniel Kinney drilled a 35-yard field goal to cap the Owls' first drive. He also connected on field goals from 25 and 20 yards out for a perfect 3-for-3 night – tying his career high in field goals made. 

• r-Sr. QB Rickie Collins finished 22-of-34 (.647) for 189 yards on the night for a 111.4 QB rating. Already leading Conference USA, Collins has now completed .674 (62-of-92) on the season. 

• r-Sr. OLB Kai Russell forced the first fumble of his career on a strip-sack in the second quarter; Jr. DT Jaiden Grimes recovered it for his first career recovery. 

• Russell stuffed the stat sheet all night, finishing with seven tackles, a sack and two pass breakups overall.  

• Jr. LB Alfred Thomas led Kennesaw State with a season-high 10 tackles on the night. 

• So. LB Karson Moss turned in a career-high eight tackles (prev. 2, twice – last vs. West Georgia (Sept. 3, 2026)). Moss also recorded his first career fumble force in the fourth quarter. 

• r-Sr. DB Cam Miller recorded a career-high nine tackles (prev. 4 vs. West Georgia (Sept. 3, 2026)).