2023 Kennesaw State Owls football team

Last updated

2023 Kennesaw State Owls football
Kennesaw State Owls logo.svg
ConferenceIndependent
Record3–6
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorChris Klenakis (1st season)
Offensive scheme Pistol option
Defensive coordinator Nathan Burton (1st season)
Base defense 4–2–5
Home stadium Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Seasons
  2022
2024  
2023 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings
ConfOverall
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.

Contents

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

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-14-plain.png
  • 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

[3]

Game summaries

vs Tusculum

at Chattanooga

vs No. 7 Furman

at Tennessee Tech

at Charleston Southern

vs Tennessee State

vs Lincoln (CA)

at Sam Houston

Kennesaw State Owls at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Owls1470021
Bearkats0771024

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.
StatisticsKSUSHSU
First downs927
Total yards291347
Rushing yards247105
Passing yards44242
Turnovers13
Time of possession24:0635:54
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kennesaw StatePassingJohnathan Murphy8/14, 44 yards, INT
RushingMicheal Benefield11 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingRowan Darnell2 receptions, 18 yards
Sam Houston StatePassing Keegan Shoemaker 30/38, 242 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingZach Hrbacek18 rushes, 50 yards
ReceivingNoah Smith7 receptions, 78 yards, TD

vs Virginia-Lynchburg

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References

  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.