Kennesaw State Heads to No. 19 Samford for 2017 Opener

Thursday night’s game kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on Peachtree TV and ESPN3

 

Coverage

TV: Peachtree TV (WPCH Ch. 17 in Atlanta)

Video Stream: ESPN3

Radio: ESPN Radio 1230 and 106.3 The Fan 2 (Live Link)

Live Stats: KSUOwls.com (Live Link)

Twitter Updates: @KennesawStFB

 

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State football team, which is receiving votes in preseason Top 25 polls, enters its third season in program history with a tough road test at No. 19 Samford Thursday night at Seibert Stadium. The game can be seen live on Peachtree TV in Atlanta or on ESPN3. The tilt can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 106.3 The Fan 2.

 

WATCH PARTY THURSDAY NIGHT

The Owls, in conjunction with the Taco Mac in Kennesaw and Fifth Third Bank, are hosting a special “Watch Party” for Thursday night’s game. The Taco Mac at 600 Chastain Road is the location for the watch party and Fifth Third Bank will be giving $10 Taco Mac gift cards to the first 53 KSU fans in the restaurant, beginning at 6:30 that evening. Seating for the watch party will be in the front-area of the restaurant on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be special appearances by the Scrappy The Owl and the KSU Spirit Squad. Guests are responsible for their own tab.

 

TEN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. Kennesaw State enters its third season in program history with a 14-8 (.636) overall record, finishing 2016 with an 8-3 overall mark and a 3-2 record in the Big South – both program records for most wins in a single season.
2. The Owls joined Old Dominion as the only Division-I programs since 2008 to post winning seasons in the program’s first two years of existence. With 14 wins throughout the first two seasons, the Owls have the third-most wins of any D-I program in their first two seasons (since 2008).
3. Head Coach Brian Bohannon guided the Owls to their second consecutive winning season in 2016 and earned himself a spot among 15 finalists for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
4. KSU returns 16 of 22 positional starters, including QB Chandler Burks, WRs Justin Sumpter and Xavier Harper, four of the five on the offensive line, and six of the front seven on defense. KSU lost CB Dante Blackmon, who inked a contract with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL, along with DB Derrick Farrow, two-year starting C Malik Letatau, and dynamic RB Chaston Bennett.
5. The Owls were named Big South co-favorites and received a league-leading eight Preseason All-Conference selections. KSU’s honorees included RB Darnell Holland, WR Justin Sumpter, and OL Zach Mitchler on offense. On defense, DL Tonarius Portress, DL Desmond Johnson, Jr., LB Anthony Gore, Jr., LB Izzy Sam, and DB Taylor Henkle were also recognized.
6. Kennesaw State finished as the only team ranked in the Top 10 nationally in total offense (479.5 ypg), scoring (38.9, ninth), rushing (320.6 ypg, third), third down conversions (49%, ninth) and in fourth down conversions (70%, eighth) in 2016.
7. The Owls out-gained 10 of their 11 opponents in 2016, accumulating a +1,735 total yard margin — an average margin of +157.7 per game. Kennesaw State rolled up 500 or more yards in six of the 11 games.
8. The defense was also impressive in 2016, ranking first in the Big South in scoring defense (21.7), rushing defense (130.3 ypg), third down conversions defense (32%), fourth down defense (32%), and second in total defense (321.8 ypg).
9. Kennesaw State’s latest historic announcement came on June 9, 2017 when the Owls and the Atlanta Braves announced the Black & Gold will host the first football game at SunTrust Park in 2018 versus Jacksonville State.
10. Kennesaw State opens its 2017 season on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Samford. The 2017 home opener is slated for Saturday, Sept. 9 versus Tennessee Tech. The Owls’ challenging non-conference slate also includes Montana State, Texas Southern, Alabama State and North Greenville.

Source: ksuowlssports.com
Link: Kennesaw State Heads to No. 19 Samford for 2017 Opener