Sam Houston State and Kennesaw State took the field Saturday in the FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals and gave us a fitting end to the weekend with a great game — a 34-27 Bearkats win in a barn-burner that came down to the final minutes.
[divider]COMPARE: Davion Davis vs. Justin Sumpter | Sam Houston vs. State Kennesaw State[divider]
MORE: Game Recap, Players of the Game
Here's how the game unfolded (highlights via @NCAA_FCS):
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Darnell Holland opened the scoring for Kennesaw State on the Owls' opening possession, capping a 7-play, 43-yard drive with a 13-yard score on the option pitch from Chandler Burks and KSU took an early 7-0 lead.
The Owls strike first!
KSU 7, SHSU 0 – 1Q
Watch the #FCSPlayoffs on the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/lVSqzrJB4f— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2017
Sam Houston State fired right back as Jeremiah Briscoe found Nathan Stewart on a 61-yard touchdown strike to answer and a drive later Briscoe hit Yedidiah Lewis for a 16-yard score to take a 14-7 lead.
Bearkats strike again as Yedi Louis finds the end zone for the first time tonight
SHSU 14, KSU 7 – 1Q
Watch the #FCSPlayoffs on the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/tynohVxyT4— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2017
After a field goal, Sam Houston again drove for a score, converting a 1-yard run by Corey Avery on fourth and goal to make it a 24-7 game, and Kennesaw finally got an answer with a field goal to end the half.
The teams went into the break with SHSU up 24-10, and Kennesaw was the first to score out of the half, adding a field goal after this long Shaquil Terry run.
Shaquil Terry rips a 42 yard run and the Owls are on the move
SHSU 24, KSU 10 – 3Q
Watch the #FCSPlayoffs on the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/L1XPT22ih7— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2017
Sam Houston State tacked on a field goal in the third, taking a 27-13 lead into the fourth quarter. Kennesaw struck again, however, as Terry broke off another long one to set up a Burks TD run.
Another big play from Shaquil Terry! A 50 yard rush leads to a touchdown and the Owls cut into the deficit
SHSU 27, KSU 20 – 4Q
Watch the #FCSPlayoffs on the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/OuoC16H4ng— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2017
Sam Houston State fired right back, driving down the field and scoring on a quick, 7-play, 64-yard drive capped by another Lewis score, this one from 15 yards away.
Kennesaw answered as the fourth quarter continued to be full of points. The Owls drove 62 yards in nine plays and scored on a Burks to TJ Reed 23-yard touchdown pass and trailed by just 7, 34-27.
If you missed scoring in the third quarter, the fourth quarter is for you!
SHSU 34, KSU 27 – 4Q
Watch the #FCSPlayoffs on the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/xD2ZFdM9oh— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2017
Kennesaw forced a Sam Houston State turnover late in the fourth quarter and had one last drive to try to tie the game, but the Owls came up short on fourth down and the Bearkats ran out the clock.
DENIED!!!
PJ Hall shuts the door and gets the ball back for SHSUSHSU 34, KSU 27 – 4Q
Watch the #FCSPlayoffs on the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/9pKAsGjKAU— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2017
