Davidson College
8-3 , 7-1
#4/10 Kennesaw State
11-1 , 7-0
'Cats End Second Consecutive Championship Season in FCS Playoffs
11/27/2021 6:42:00 PM | Football
KENNESAW, Ga. - In their second FCS Championship Playoff appearance in just seven months, the Davidson Wildcats fell to the Kennesaw State Owls, 48-21, on Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
The 'Cats were down 20 in the first quarter, but once they found their footing in the inside run game, the sparks flew. Junior running back Dylan Sparks made a cut through the middle and to the right and ran it 54 yards to the house to get Davidson on the board, 20-7.
On Davidson's next possession, a two play, 75-yard drive was capped off with a Coy Williams' 61-yard touchdown run, the senior's 15th touchdown of the season. That score cut the Owl's lead to 27-14.
Kennesaw State's sophomore quarterback Xavier Shepherd scored twice before the end of the first half to stretch its advantage to 41-14 going into the locker room.
And maybe they were down, but never count the Wildcats out. On the first play of the third quarter, Shepherd fumbled the ball in the perfect spot for senior linebacker Jalen Jefferson to recover at the 37-yardline and scoop n' score his first career touchdown in his final career game.
Kennesaw State tacked on another touchdown, but both teams saw a scoreless fourth quarter. The clock wound down and the Owls claimed a 48-21 victory over Davidson.
Senior quarterback Louis Colosimo was 7-for-13 for 59 yards against the Owls. Sparks ran for 107 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Williams ran for 90 yards and a score on eight carries. Jalen Staples led the Wildcats with four receptions for 29 yards.
Defensively, senior Miles Davis led the charge with nine tackles with sophomore Jonathan Hammond on his heels with eight.
KSU's Shepherd threw for 115 yards and a touchdown and scored four rushing touchdowns.
Team Stats
DAV 0, KSU 7
KSU - Shepherd,Xavier 6 yd run (Robertson,Nathan kick), 7 plays, 29 yards, TOP 02:59
DAV 0, KSU 14
KSU - Shepherd,Xavier 1 yd run (Robertson,Nathan kick), 7 plays, 54 yards, TOP 03:19
DAV 0, KSU 20
KSU - Benyard,Gabriel 63 yd punt return ()
DAV 7, KSU 20
DAV - Sparks,Dylan 54 yd run (Bonoffski,Caden kick), 5 plays, 84 yards, TOP 02:32
DAV 7, KSU 27
KSU - Cousin,Iaan 10 yd run (Robertson,Nathan kick), 9 plays, 68 yards, TOP 04:43
DAV 14, KSU 27
DAV - Williams,Coy 61 yd run (Bonoffski,Caden kick), 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:43
DAV 14, KSU 34
KSU - Shepherd,Xavier 1 yd run (Robertson,Nathan kick), 9 plays, 54 yards, TOP 05:01
DAV 14, KSU 41
KSU - Hill,Xavier 56 yd pass from Shepherd,Xavier (Robertson,Nathan kick) 2 plays, 57 yards, TOP 00:14
DAV 21, KSU 41
DAV - Jefferson,Jalen 45 yd fumble recovery (Bonoffski,Caden kick)
DAV 21, KSU 48
KSU - Shepherd,Xavier 2 yd run (Robertson,Nathan kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:07
