KICKOFF ‘22 169
keeping you
game
Marietta
770-427-5717
Woodstock
770-926-9112
at the
top of your
Canton
770-345-5717
East Cobb
770-579-8558
Hiram
678-453-5717
- @pinnacleortho
- @pinnacleorthos
- @pinnacleortho
KENNESAW STATE OWLS
RUSHING Att. Yds. Avg. TD
Xavier Shepherd 240 867 3.6 23
Kyle Glover 134 654 4.9 1
PASSING Com/Att Yds. TD INT
Xavier Shepherd 77/133 1341 15 3
RECEIVING Rec. Yds. Avg. TD
Iaan Cousin 14 337 24.1 2
TACKLES Tac. Ast. Total
Evan Thompson 62 56 118
SACKS No.
Travis Bell 4
Joel Parker 4
INTERCEPTIONS No.
Erwin Byrd 2
Markeith Montgomery 2
VARSITY
COACHING STAFF
Brian Bohannon ..............HC
Grant Chesnut ........... OC/OL
Danny Verpaele .........DC/DB
Ossie Buchannon ...........WR
Stewart Cook.............. TE/OL
Liam Klein ....................... DL
Darius Saord .................DB
Tim Glanton .....................RB
Chandler Burks..........QB/RB
Greg Harris ...................... LB
Kynjee Cotton .................. DL
Jake Lassiter ................ OGA
Hampton Hamner ......... DGA
Jim Kiritsy ..................... STR
2021 LEADERS
2021 RESULTS
Reinhardt University ..................35-25 .......W
Georgia Tech ............................. 17-45 ........L
Woord ......................................31-10 .......W
Jacksonville State ....................... 31-6 .......W
Hampton ................................... 34-15 .......W
North Carolina A&T ...................... 14-0 .......W
Campbell .....................................30-7 .......W
Gardner-Webb ...........................34-30 .......W
Robert Morris ............................ 45-21 .......W
North Alabama ..........................28-24 .......W
Monmouth ................................. 49-17 .......W
FCS Playos
Davidson ................................... 48-21 .......W
East Tennessee State ................. 31-32 ........L
FIVE YEAR
RECORD
49-10
2021: 11-2
2020: 4-1
2019: 11-3
2018: 11-2
2017: 12-2
ALL TIME RECORD: 6318
CONFERENCE TITLES (3)
2021, 2018, 2017
Coach: Brian Bohannon
7 Seasons at School • Record: 63-18 • Career: 63-18
Stadium: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Owls’ offense could be big
problem for opponents
By John Bednarowski
sportseditor@mdjonline.com
K ennesaw State opponents are going
to have their hands full during
the 2022 season.
The O wls run coach Brian Bohannon’s
version of a triple-option offense,
and despite being run based,
it should be considered one where a
big play can be expected from anywhere
on the field.
That is especially true this season.
Defenses will have to deal with
quarterback X avier Shepherd, a firstteam
FCS All-American who was
responsible for 38 touchdowns last
season. In addition, there are running
backs Isaac Foster, Iaan Cousin
and G abriel Benyard.
Foster is back for his final season
and has been a quick-strike target
his entire career — in the run game,
pass game and as a kick and punt returner.
Cousin became Shepherd’s
go-to target in the pass game when
the O wls need a big play, and Benyard
enters his second season with a
better understanding of the offense
and what is expected.
All four run sub-4.5 40s and are
not caught once they get into the
open field. In some ways, it may not
be fair when all four are on the field
at the same time this season.
“The running back room could be
as good, if not better, than its ever
been,” coach Brian Bohannon said.
That being said, so is the quarterback
room. Entering the 2021 season,
Jonathan Murphy emerged as
the starter, but he was inj ured early
on and when Shepherd took over, he
never looked back.
However, what should not be lost
is the fact that Murphy has a season
of starting experience under his belt,
and has led the O wls to playoff victories
during his career.
Considering the type of offense the
team runs, and the amout of hits the
quarterback takes, having two proven
winners may be the most important
thing K SU has going for it.
For what seems for the first time,
the offensive line is getting some recognition.
Z ion K atina, Terrell Paxton
and Matt O lson were all selected to the
ASU N Preseason All-Conference team.
However, Bohannon said there is still
some work to do in figuring out who will
replace graduated former starters Jake
Lassiter and William Nana Fabu.
“We’re not there yet,” Bohannon
said. “We’re in a better place than we
have been. Some things have solidified,
but we feel there are some spots
that still need to be worked out.”
Surprisingly, considering the O wls
were the No. 1 defense in their final
year in the Big South and 16 th nationally,
no players were selected to
the ASU N preseason squad.
While that will likely rectify itself
as the season plays out, it could work
as bulletin board material.
The strength of the defense is up
front with Travis Bell, Desmond
Scott, Joel Parker and K eric Reese.
G arland Benyard, who was the Big
South Freshman Defensive Player
of the Year last season, will see an
increased workload this year, and
will likely be called on to become a
leader of the linebackers.
Markeith Montgomery and Je’Cory
Burks will lead a secondary, which
will feature some new faces this year.
“Some guys are going to have to
stepup up this year,” Bohannon said.
“The back-end depth is critical. We
j ust need some guys to go do it.”
This will be K ennesaw State’s first
year in the ASU N football conference,
and the schedule may be as difficult
as the program has ever put together
with games against Jacksonville
State, Eastern K entucky, U T Martin
and College Football Playoff participant
Cincinnati.
link
/www.pinnacle-ortho.com