KENNESAW STATE NOTES | TENNESSEE TECH NOTES
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
KENNESAW, Ga. – Tennessee Tech hits the road again, looking for a chance to get back on the right track on Saturday as it heads to Kennesaw State.
With a triple-option team like the Owls have, it will be a challenge, but the Golden Eagles are up to the task.
Kickoff for Saturday's contest is set for a 2 p.m. Central start.
Fans attending the game on Saturday – please be aware that Kennesaw State's Fifth Third Stadium has a clear bag policy in place and certain bags and items cannot be brought into the stadium. More information on their policy can be found here.
Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will broadcast the game on 98.5 KISS FM, while Nolan Alexander and Barclay Miller will handle the broadcast duties on ESPN+ (subscription required).
It's been a tough stretch for the Golden Eagles in recent weeks as they have lost four straight games with three ranked opponents in Samford, UT Martin and Southeast Missouri, then returned home for a tough game against Tennessee State. Tech is also looking to break a six-game road losing streak with the last victory away from Tucker Stadium coming last October against North Carolina Central.
Statistically on offense, the Golden Eagles have been hanging tough with those teams, averaging only 33 fewer rushing yards and 38 fewer passing yards. The challenge however has been from turnovers as those have created tough situations. It's an area of emphasis for sure as Tech heads to Kennesaw and it's a fixable one as the Golden Eagles look down the final stretch of the campaign.
Tech (1-5) has definitely been challenged by the Owls (2-4) in their two meetings, but the record for this Kennesaw State squad is definitely deceiving. Like the Golden Eagles this season, the Owls have had a difficult schedule coming in as KSU has wins over Wofford and future Tech opponent North Alabama in double overtime. The losses however? Samford (27-17), FBS Cincinnati (63-10), Jacksonville State (35-28 in overtime) and Central Arkansas (51-24).
The 2-4 record is not indicative of Kennesaw State's performance in years past, and with the Owls outscoring Tech 76-24 in the two meetings in 2017 and 2018, the Golden Eagles aren't discounting what KSU can bring to the table.
The Owls continue to run the tricky triple-option offense and 13 players have carried the rock over the course of the season, led by Jonathan Murphy with five touchdowns and 305 yards on 83 carries. Nine players have double-digit rush attempts, while Murphy, Xavier Shepherd, Preston Daniels and Isaac Foster all have passed the century mark in rushing yards in the campaign.
Passing, however, is not the Owls' bread and butter. Shepherd has thrown for 578 of KSU's 780 yards – Murphy has the other 202 yards, but KSU's opponents have thrown for almost 1,100 more yards, averaging 306.3 yards through the air per game.
One thing KSU doesn't seem to do though is allow opponents to establish a running game as the Owls have only allowed 756 total yards on the ground through their first six games, an average of 126.0 yards per game. Defensively, Deontre Morris leads the team with 26 tackles, three of their seven interceptions, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
The Owls have sacked quarterbacks 11 times this season with 36 tackles-for-loss for 141 yards, led by Jahon Myers with four TFL for 16 yards, Kerick Reese with three TFL for 19 yards and Adam Watkins with 2.5 sacks for 24 yards.
Tech, on the other hand, has eight total sacks with 35 TFL for 115 yards. Seth Carlisle leads the Golden Eagles with 48 total tackles – recording 13 in the last outing against Tennessee State – and two pass breakups and a QB hurry. Josh Reliford has 41 tackles, half a sack, two breakups and a hurry.
Jeremiah Oatsvall has thrown for 1,260 yards this season with 11 touchdown passes, rushing for another one to give him 12 total on the campaign. Oatsvall has also rushed for 225 yards to give him 1,485 yards of total offense. David Gist leads the rushing attack with 323 yards and three touchdowns, becoming Tech's seventh-leading rusher in program history against Southeast Missouri with 2,068 career yards.
Willie Miller and Brad Clark lead the team in catches with 16 each – 190 yards and two touchdowns for Miller and 186 yards and two touchdowns for Clark. Gist also has two touchdown catches and 130 yards on 140 completions. Hunter Barnhart leads in yardage with 222 total yards, while Heath Price has the most touchdown catches with three in his four total hauls.
Following this week's contest, Tech hits the road to Eastern Illinois, before returning home on November 5 to take on OVC newcomer Lindenwood in the Golden Eagles' annual Homecoming contest.
Single-game tickets are on sale. Call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com to order.
