By: Austin Williams
The Kennesaw State Owls kick off their first Conference USA test against rival Jacksonville State Gamecocks, set for Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Scroll below for what to watch for during tonight's contest.
New Conference, Same Rivals
This will be the fifth-ever matchup between Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State, and the Owls lead the overall series with three wins and one loss against the Gamecocks. The Gamecocks will try to earn their first-ever back-to-back wins against the Owls this upcoming Friday, as Jax State last defeated Kennesaw State in 2022 in a 35-28 overtime victory.
This rivalry has produced multiple exciting games, especially in the 2018 matchup, in which the Owls left the home of the Atlanta Braves, SunTrust Park (now Truist Field) with a 60-52 win that included five overtimes. Only one game in this series has been won by more than 10 points, so this Friday night game could prove to be another instant classic.
The Owls hope to earn their first Conference USA victory and a win over their cross-state rivals would make it even sweeter. Head coach Brian Bohannon knows how capable the high-flying Gamecocks can be but hopes the familiarity between the two can play a factor for the Owls.
"We're playing a really good opponent that is trending up every week," Bohannon said. "We've played them a bunch, but I don't know how much that plays into this game because we don't have that many kids that have experienced this game before; however, this is a game and a team that both are familiar with."
Turnovers Key for Owls
Turnovers from the Owl defense have been one of the highlights of this team on the early season, as the defense has earned five turnovers from three of their four games. The defense has been playing aggressively through the first half of the season, ranking first in Conference USA in forced fumbles (5) and second in fumble recoveries (4). The defense even found their way to the endzone last week against UT Martin (Sept. 28), as sophomore defensive back Jayven Williams returned an interception for a 48-yard touchdown.
The Owl defense ranks fourth in Conference USA in total yards allowed (392.8) and will need to play an excellent game against the fast-tempo Jacksonville State offense that is ranked third in scoring (29.8) and second in total yards per game (394.8) in Conference USA.
The Owls will primarily be looking out for senior Gamecock quarterback Tyler Huff. Huff leads the Gamecock offense in both passing (860) and rushing (269) yards. Bohannon remembered how dangerous Huff was when the Owls played against him last season as part of the Furman Paladins.
"Huff is tough, can throw, can run, is a competitor, has moxie and is just a good player," Bohannon said. "We played against him at home last year, got a first-hand look at him and he's a good overall player."
Watch Out for these Owls
Jayven Williams has shined at defensive back for the Black and Gold on the early campaign and is the top-rated FBS cornerback by PFF enterting this weekend's slate of games. He has the third-highest PFF coverage grade at the FBS level. Williams is the only Owl to have multiple takeaways in 2024.
Another aggressive Owl to look for is junior defensive back Milon Jones. Jones led the team in tackles (10) against UT Martin and will be needed to keep Huff and the rest of the Gamecock offense in check. Keep an eye out for Jones and his tackling abilities against the Gamecocks. Bohannon gave praise to Jones and his playmaking abilities.
"Jones really does a nice job and is someone we rely on," Bohannon said. "He's played a lot of football for us, we trust him and is making some good plays."
The duo of Owl receivers, redshirt juniors Blake Bohannon and Tykeem Wallace, have stepped up when called upon. With the Owl's number one receiver, Gabriel Benyard, being sidelined from injuries the past few weeks, both Bohannon and Wallace have done their part. Wallace ranks sixth in conference USA in all-purpose yards a game (87) and first in kick return yardage (241).
Catch the Action
KSU and JSU meet at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 inside Fifth Third Stadium. Fans can catch the action on CBS Sports Network or listen via the KSU Owls App or SiriusXM channel 972. Limited tickets are available for Kennesaw State football's first Conference USA game, click here to secure your seat.
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