KENNESAW, Ga. — Sometimes the underdog doesn’t just sneak past expectations — it stomps them into the dirt. On Thursday night, the Kennesaw State Owls did exactly that, delivering a clinic at Fifth Third Stadium, by blowing out Louisiana Tech 35-7. Coming in as a +6.5 underdog, KSU surged to 2–0 in Conference USA and 4–2 overall. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs fall to 4–2 and 1–1 in CUSA, left to pick up the pieces after being thoroughly dominated.
When halftime ended and the crowd (including us from EasySportz) sensed something was brewing, few could’ve guessed just how emphatic this would get. But from the second quarter on, the Owls flattened the Bulldogs, capped things off with a goal-line stand that kept Tech out — even from the 1-yard line, with all three timeouts in hand. Final: 35-7, with the under intact and KSU denying Tech’s final chance at a touchdown.
Owls Dominate Every Phase
This was no fluke. Kennesaw State outclassed Louisiana Tech across the board: offense, defense, special teams, tempo, physicality — the works. Their defense suffocated the Bulldogs’ running lanes and disrupted Tech’s rhythm in the backfield and through the air. The Owls forced key turnovers, converted third downs, and never let the Bulldogs settle into a groove.
On offense, the Owls imposed their will — mixing runs and play-action, stretching Tech’s defense, and exploiting mismatches. The line won at the point of attack. The crowd at Fifth Third Stadium got to see their team surge in front and refuse to let up. Even when Tech mounted a late-game attempt (first-and-goal at the 1), KSU’s defensive front and linebackers stood firm, bending but not breaking.
That goal-line stand — when Tech had the ball at the 1 with all three timeouts — was the exclamation point. The Bulldogs couldn’t punch it in. Not then. Not ever. The Owls slammed the door shut.
Jerry Mack: From Newcomer to Headline
In his first full season as head coach, Jerry Mack has quickly become more than a curiosity — he’s a force. Kennesaw hired him after parting ways with Brian Bohannon, and many viewed the move skeptically. But Mack came in with two decades of coaching experience (college and NFL), carrying reputation, relationships, and ambition. From his time in Jacksonville with the Jags, Rice, Tennessee — and earlier as head coach at North Carolina Central — Mack has honed an attacking mindset and player-first ethos.
Through six games, KSU has covered in 4 of 5 games. They are outperforming their computer metrics at a blistering rate. The models said they were underdogs tonight. The Owls laughed at those models, throttled the line of scrimmage, imposed their will, and left no doubt.
If this keeps up, Mack won’t just be a candidate for CUSA Coach of the Year — he’ll be knocking on national coach-of-the-year doors.
From the Stands: What We Saw, What We Felt
We were there. We picked up an Owl-themed Hawaiian shirt from the stadium giveaway (yeah, we’re stylin’ now). The band chimed, the student section roared, the crowd pressure was tangible. It was the kind of night that makes a midweek conference game feel like a playoff atmosphere.
Tech never really had a foothold. KSU’s energy never dipped. When the Owls sealed off Tech’s final chance on the goal line, the stadium exploded. And with this win, their message is loud: they aren’t just here to survive this FBS climb — they’re here to dominate.
Program Momentum, Athletic Department Pride
This win is one more notch in the ascendant belt of KSU athletics. This isn’t just a football moment. The Owls’ program is accelerating. The school’s basketball team was picked to finish second in CUSA — under Coach Pettway. The athletic department, recruitment, facilities, everything is getting brighter. They’re already knocking on the door of being one of the most respected emerging D1 programs in CUSA.
In just their second year of FBS-level competition (if the NCAA allows them full bowl eligibility), they’ve already exceeded last season’s win total — by October. They’ve already shown they can not just play, but punish, CUSA competition under pressure.
Looking Ahead
Louisiana Tech will shake off this mauling; it’s a long season. But Kennesaw? They step into conference play with swagger. They’ll aim to carry this momentum into their next CUSA tests — and they know the road ahead will demand more of this dominance. But against Tech tonight, they proved they can sustain intensity when most teams fade. They stamped themselves as a legitimate threat in this league.
What a night for the Owls. What a statement. What a program. Kennesaw State didn’t just win — they roared.
If this is what Jerry Mack builds, if this is the future trajectory, turns out the smart money wasn’t on the Bulldogs. The smart money was on the uptick of an underdog that refuses to stay under.
You don’t want to go to war, with the Owls! With the Owls!
Goodnight from Kennesaw! We’re off to the Plains for the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry on Saturday!
EasySportz has been in the building for at least 1 college football game dating back to Week 0 and will bring you weekly coverage throughout the duration of the season.
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