2023 Kennesaw State Owls football team

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

2023 Kennesaw State Owls football
ConferenceIndependent
Record3–6
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorChris Klenakis (1st season)
Offensive schemePistol Option
Defensive coordinatorNathan Burton (1st season)
Home stadiumFifth Third Bank Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Kennesaw State*   –     3 – 6  
  • * Note: Kennesaw State ineligible for FCS postseason play due to start of transition to FBS.
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Kennesaw State Owls football team represented the Kennesaw State University as a new independent during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Brian Bohannon, the Owls played their home games at the Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.

The 2023 season was the last for the Owls on the FCS level as after the conclusion of the season they will join Conference USA in 2024.[1][2]

Schedule[edit]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 317:00 p.m.Tusculum*
ESPN+W 38–710,108
September 96:00 p.m.at Chattanooga*
ESPN+L 20–278,123
September 165:00 p.m.No. 7 Furman*
  • Fifth Third Bank Stadium
  • Kennesaw, GA
ESPN+L 28–316,993
September 237:00 p.m.at Tennessee Tech*
ESPN+L 7–179,923
September 306:00 p.m.at Charleston Southern*
ESPN+L 10–133,087
October 73:00 p.m.Tennessee State*dagger
  • Fifth Third Bank Stadium
  • Kennesaw, GA
ESPN+L 20–2710,436
October 283:00 p.m.Lincoln (CA)*
  • Fifth Third Bank Stadium
  • Kennesaw, GA
ESPN+W 28–126,013
November 41:00 p.m.at Sam Houston*
ESPN+L 21–247,143
November 113:00 p.m.Virginia–Lynchburg*
  • Fifth Third Bank Stadium
  • Kennesaw, GA
ESPN+W 63–35,735
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[3]

Game summaries[edit]

vs Tusculum[edit]

See also: Tusculum Pioneers football

at Chattanooga[edit]

See also: 2023 Chattanooga Mocs football team

vs No. 7 Furman[edit]

See also: 2023 Furman Paladins football team

at Tennessee Tech[edit]

See also: 2023 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team

at Charleston Southern[edit]

See also: 2023 Charleston Southern Buccaneers football team

vs Tennessee State[edit]

See also: 2023 Tennessee State Tigers football team

vs Lincoln (CA)[edit]

See also: Lincoln Oaklanders football

at Sam Houston[edit]

See also: 2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football team
Kennesaw State Owls at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Owls 14 7 0021
Bearkats 0 7 71024

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

  • Date: November 4
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 7,143
  • Referee: Joe Lehring
  • TV: ESPN+
  • Box score, Recap
Game information
First quarter
  • KENN - Michael Benefield 75-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 11:00. Owls 0-7. Drive: 3 plays, 83 yards, 1:03.
  • KENN - Micheal Benefield 3-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 2:13. Owls 0-14. Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:57.

Second quarter

  • SHSU - Noah Smith 24-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 7:18. Owls 7-14. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2:35.
  • KENN - Jonathan Murphy 57-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 4:58. Owls 21-7. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:20.

Third quarter

  • SHSU - Elijah Sohn 5-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 0:33. Owls 14-21. Drive: 13 plays, 74 yards, 5:08.

Fourth quarter

  • SHSU - Jay Rockwell 2-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 3:49. Tied 21-21. Drive: 16 plays, 80 yards, 9:24.
  • SHSU - Colby Sessums 35-yard field goal, 0:00. Bearkats 24-21. Drive: 9 plays, 36 yards, 2:59.
Statistics KSU SHSU
First downs 9 27
Total yards 291 347
Rushing yards 247 105
Passing yards 44 242
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 24:06 35:54
Team Category Player Statistics
Kennesaw State Passing Johnathan Murphy 8/14, 44 yards, INT
Rushing Micheal Benefield 11 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Rowan Darnell 2 receptions, 18 yards
Sam Houston State Passing Keegan Shoemaker 30/38, 242 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing Zach Hrbacek 18 rushes, 50 yards
Receiving Noah Smith 7 receptions, 78 yards, TD

vs Virginia-Lynchburg[edit]

See also: Virginia University of Lynchburg

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kennesaw State to Join Conference USA in 2024-25". Kennesaw State University Athletics. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Kennesaw State to Join Conference USA in July 2024". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "2023 Kennesaw State Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2023_Kennesaw_State_Owls_football_team&oldid=1220662962"