By Don Stone, KennesawStateSports.com
Kennesaw State had just announced their plans to move up from the FCS to the FBS as they’ll join Conference USA in 2024.
That will come with some growing pains as the FBS level of competition gets tougher. They have already struggled at that level, losing all four times they played FBS teams (Georgia State, Kent State, Georgia Tech and Cincinnati).
The fact is that one of the main reasons this season is the worst start in program history (2-4) is the higher level of competition as they moved into the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Saturday was a perfect example.
“We got our butts whipped,” said head coach Brian Bohannon after the game.
From start to finish, ASUN opponent Central Arkansas dominated the game eventually pulling away in the fourth quarter with a convincing 51-24 victory.
Most of the damage was due to the the inability to stop running back Darius Hale, who ran for a season-high 170 yards and two touchdowns, his fifth career 100-yard game and third of the season and receiver Christian Richmond, who set the ASUN single-game record with 12 receptions for 156 yards.
The 27 point deficit was the 4th worst loss in program history behind the 63-10 loss earlier this season at Cincinnati and the 45-13 drubbing in their first season of play in 2015 at then Big South Conference foe Liberty and last season’s 45-17 defeat at Georgia Tech.
The point differential was just ahead of the 42-17 loss in 2020 at Monmouth.
It was also the worst home loss in program history ahead of another Monmouth defeat in 2019, 45-21 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
The Owls will try to regroup for their Homecoming game next Saturday in a game they should win.
Tennessee Tech (Ohio Valley Conference) will come in at 1-5 after losing at home 30-14 to Tennessee Tech. Its a later 3:00 p.m. kickoff.
By Don Stone, KennesawStateSports.com
