The Liberty Flames (5-0, 3-0 CUSA) are back in action against Kennesaw State (0-6, 0-2 CUSA). The Flames and Owls are scheduled to meet in Kennesaw, Georgia on Wednesday, October 23 at 7 PM. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
The Owls are an infant in terms of a Division I football program. They started the football team in 2015, joining the FCS and Big South with Brian Bohannon as their head coach. KSU posted winning records in each of their first 7 seasons as a program including three with 11+ wins as they became a regular in the FCS Playoffs, reaching the Quarterfinals twice.
The Flames and the Owls met three times from 2015-2017 as Big South members. Liberty won the first two meetings (45-35, 36-21) and KSU won the most recent meeting in 2017 (42-28).
Last year, as Kennesaw State began to make the transition to the FBS, they were ineligible for the FCS playoffs and competed as an FCS Independent. They decided to redshirt many of their players and struggled to a 3-6 season.
Now, Kennesaw has made the jump to CUSA and the FBS, and it has been a struggle under Coach Bohannon. The Owls are 0-6 and 0-2 in conference play, including a loss to FCS UT Martin, 24-13. They got destroyed by Jacksonville State, 63-24, to open league play and lost to Middle Tennessee, 14-5, on Tuesday night.
“We’ve got a conference opponent that’s finding their way in our conference this year,” Chadwell said of the Owls. “I have a lot of respect for Brian, and what he does in his program, he’s won a lot of football games, built that program from the ground up. The thing you know about their teams, they’re gonna be tough, they’ll be always ready to play.”
Kennesaw State has the worst offense in the country. When their program first started, they had a triple option offensive attack, but the Owls have now switched to a more traditional offense. Through the first half of the year, they are averaging 13 points and 228 yards of offense per game. Those numbers would rank dead last in the FBS by a good margin if the Owls were eligible for FBS statistical rankings with it being their first year at the higher level.
They are still trying to figure things out at quarterback. Davis Bryson started the first five games, but he was very inconsistent and unable to lead the team to much success. Khalib Johnson got the start against MTSU, but he completed just 5 of 17 passes for 52 yards and 2 interceptions. Braden Bohannon also played against the Blue Raiders, he was 5 of 10 for 51 yards.
Qua Ashley has been the only bright spot on the offensive side of the ball and is someone that opposing teams should key on. He leads the team in all purpose yards, receiving yards, and rushing attempts. He is second on the team in rushing yards. Ashley has racked up 351 all-purpose yards in the last two games.
It hasn’t been much better on the other side of the ball. Kennesaw is giving up 32.33 points and 405.3 yards per contest. Teams are rushing for 4.6 yards per carry and 169.3 yards per game while throwing for 236 yards each contest.
LB Donelius Johnson has 34 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. He also recorded the program’s first ever safety with his TFL in the first quarter against MTSU.
Garland Benyard tied the school record with 3 sacks and also had a career high 4 tackles for loss against the Blue Raiders.
K Austin Welch is a perfect 9 for 9 on his field goal attempts this season.
“Our guys are excited about being able to play, because we’ve not played a game in a long time,” said Chadwell. “They’re excited about that, and also another opportunity on TV and showcase Liberty.”
PREDICTION
Liberty 35, Kennesaw State 14
Line: Liberty -24
Picks results this year:
Straight-up: 5-0
ATS: 4-1
