Kennesaw Defense, Special Teams Highlight 70-13 Win Over CAU

KENNESAW, Georgia –  Kennesaw State returned two interceptions for touchdowns and scored on a blocked punt to highlight a 70-13 victory over an outmanned Clark Atlanta team Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 
For the second week in a row, the Owls (3-1) broke the program single-game scoring record and established the school mark for largest margin of victory (57 points). Kennesaw State registered a 62-13 victory over Alabama State a week ago to set the previous record.
 
Running back Shaquil Terry led the scoring barrage with three touchdowns, scoring on runs of 21 and 50, and added a five-yard reception from quarterback Chandler Burks. The Owls' quarterback also scored on runs of eight and one yard. Seven Owls scored found the end zone.
   
After Clark Atlanta (0-4) scored 13 points off two Kennesaw State turnovers to take a 13-7 lead less than 10 minutes into the game, the Owls scored 63 unanswered points.
 
Jace White (32 yards) and Demetrius Pettway (56 yards) returned interceptions for touchdowns and Courtney Mills returned a blocked punt by Cole Loden for a score to highlight the play of the defense and special teams. The defense totaled a program record-tying four interceptions.
 
Kyle Glover and Antavius Grier scored their first career touchdowns, finding the end zone on runs of one and 14 yards, respectively.
 
The Kennesaw State offense amassed 351 total yards, including 339 on the ground. Terry led the Owls with 71 yards on three carries.
 
Kennesaw State continues its four-game home stand on Saturday (Sept. 29) when it hosts Samford at 6 p.m.

Box Score (PDF) | Quotes (PDF) | 
 
2018 KENNESAW STATE FOOTBALL POSTGAME NOTES
Kennesaw State (3-1) , Clark Atlanta (0-4, 0-1) 
Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 • 6:05 p.m. ET • Kennesaw, Ga. • Attendance: 6,009
 
Team

• Kennesaw State improved to 3-1 on the year and 2-0 at home. KSU is now 2-0 all-time against Clark Atlanta.
• The Owls have won 11 consecutive home games, a streak of 714 days.
• The 70 points scored by KSU breaks the program's single-game scoring record, previously last week during a 62-13 victory over Alabama State.
• The Owls set a record with 63 unanswered points.
• The Owls 10 touchdowns are a program record.
• With its four interceptions, KSU extended its takeaway streak to 18 straight games and has intercepted a pass in 17 of its last 18 games.
• Cole Loden's blocked punt was the first by Kennesaw State since Oct. 14, 2017 when accomplished the feat at Liberty. It also marked the Owls' first blocked punt returned for a touchdown.
• The four interceptions versus Clark Atlanta equals the previous single-game high set at Duquesne on Sept. 24, 2016. It also marks the fifth time KSU has three or more interceptions in a game.
• The 56-yard interception return by Demetrius Pettway ranks as the second-longest interception return in program history. Adesola Abisoye's 41-yard return in the fifth longest, while Jace White's 32-yard interception ties for the seventh longest.
• The Owls have scored six or more rushing touchdowns in three straight games. Prior to the 2018 season, KSU recorded six or more rushing touchdowns in six times.
• Over the past three games, the Owls are averaging 60.3 points while allowing 12.  
• The offensive line extended its streak without allowing a sack to 12 quarters.

 Individual

• Captains for tonight's game were Isaac Foster, Desmond Johnson, Jr., and Nick Eldridge.
• Chandler Burks has recorded at least one rushing touchdown in seven of the last eight games. He has scored eight rushing touchdowns over the last three games.
• With his two TDs, Burks eclipsed 200 points scored (210). He is second all-time behind Justin Sumpter (243).
• Adesola Abisoye's 41-yard interception return was the first of his career and marks the fifth-longest in KSU history.
• Jace White's interception return for a touchdown ties for the seventh longest in program history.
• Shaquil Terry's two rushing touchdown marks a single-game career high. career single-game high for the sophomore. Terry's 5-yard touchdown reception was the first of his career and his three scores were also a career best.  
• Terry's 70 rushing yards gave him 997 for his career and three shy of 1,000.
• Demetrius Pettway's 56-yard interception return is the second-longest in school history.
• With eight extra points made, Justin Thompson extended his streak of successful PATs to 101. Thompson increased his program-record points total to 251.

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By Al Barba
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS