Posted: Sep 24, 2023
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – In their nine-year history, Kennesaw State had only lost 14 games against non-conference opponents coming into Saturday night.
Tennessee Tech made it 15 as the Golden Eagles pulled together two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to give Tech its first win of the season., prevailing 17-7.
To put the win into perspective:
- Tech held a typically potent offense to just 172 total yards with 96 on the ground and 76 through the air, just a week after Owl quarterback Jonathan Murphy set new KSU records for completions (17) and passing yards (308)
- The Golden Eagles snapped Kennesaw State's 73-game streak of scoring 10 or more points.
- It was only the eighth time in KSU history where the Owls were outrushed.
- The tally of 172 yards of total offense was the fewest in KSU history, eclipsing the 264 collected against Reinhardt in 2019.
- The 96 rushing yard total in the contest is the fewest in KSU history and the first time the Owls have been held under 100 rushing yards with the previous low of 102 coming just two weeks ago against Chattanooga.
- The seven points is one more than their fewest tally in a loss – they scored six against Presbyterian in 2015.
The Golden Eagles put together 361 yards of offense in the contest, 277 in the second half. That came about with some second-half adjustments as Tech was held to a 50-yard field goal from Hayden Olsen – the third-longest in his career with just 49 seconds remaining before the intermission. Olsen had another try in the third quarter, but the kick was no good.
KSU (1-3) scored in the first quarter as Murphy completed a 29-yard pass to Gabriel Benyard for a touchdown to end a seven-play, 74-yard drive on the Owls' opening possession. After a failed field goal try at the Tech 25 in the second quarter, Kennesaw State never got into Tech territory for the rest of the night.
Tech's defense was suffocating, holding the Owls to 3-for-15 on third downs and just 36 yards in the second half. With the Golden Eagles yielding just one turnover in the contest – an interception early on in the third quarter, but the Owls were only able to move the ball six yards in the resulting series.
Marcus Knight and Jordan Pegues chewed up a lot of ground to put the Golden Eagles on top, combining for 183 yards – more than the Owls combined. They had 62 yards in the third and 85 in the fourth.
Pegues capped off a 12-play, 83-yard drive with a 17-yard run through the defense with 9:59 remaining in the contest. After two quick KSU possessions, Tech started at its own 23-yard line and wound the clock down as the Golden Eagles pushed closer and closer. Following a Hayes Gibson rush for a first-and-goal at the Owl 4, Knight pushed forward as his Golden Eagle teammates helped him across rugby-style as the scrum made its way across the goal line for the score.
Knight ended the game with 112 yards on 18 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Pegues had 71 yards on 13 carries.
With injuries shifting the quarterback lineup, Willie Miller had the start, throwing for 88 yards on 5-of-13 passing. Gibson went 4-for-5 for 49 yards. Jalal Dean had two big catches – including a 49-yard pickup – for 75 total yards, while Reece Perkins had two catches for 16 yards. Brad Clark had a big pickup late as he hauled in a catch for 26 yards.
On defense, Jacquez McGowan led the way with seven stops, while safeties Jackson Price and Tim Coutras each had six tackles.
For KSU, Murphy ended the game with 39 rushing yards and 76 passing yards on an 8-for-24 night. Benyard had three catches for 34 yards, while Isaac Foster had three grabs for 31 yards.
Tech (1-3) can celebrate its victory as the Golden Eagles enter their open week, but will return to work as they prepare for their Big South/Ohio Valley Conference Football Association opener on Oct. 7 at Lindenwood.
The Golden Eagles return home on October 21 as Tech hosts Southeast Missouri.
Tickets for Tech football are on sale – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com.
Photo | Jim Dillon
