Bryant leads Kennesaw State past Gardner-Webb 42-14

KENNESAW, Ga. -- Kennesaw State quarterback Tommy Bryant ran for career highs of 154 yards and four touchdowns and the Owls breezed to a 42-14 victory over Gardner-Webb on Saturday.

Bryant, who was just 3-of-6 passing for 28 yards, had TD runs of 15, 1, 1 and 3 yards for the Owls (10-2, 5-1 Big South Conference), who clinched second place in the conference behind Monmouth.

Kennesaw State grabbed a 7-0 lead on Bryant's first TD run after the Owls took over at the Gardner-Webb 31-yard line following a Cincere Mason interception on the Bulldogs' first play from scrimmage. The Bulldogs (3-9, 1-5) pulled even at 7 when Kalen Whitlow connected with Izaiah Gathings for a 15-yard score with 5:14 left in the first quarter, but Bryant's second TD run was the only score of the second period and gave the Owls a 14-7 halftime lead.

Kennesaw State took control in the third quarter, using Bryant's third scoring run and Jalen Jackson's 15-yard TD return after Adesola Abisoye blocked Jack Pawloski's punt, for a 28-7 advantage.

Bryant's final TD run and Bronson Rechsteiner's 65-yard scoring run stretched the Owls' lead to 42-7 before Whitlow capped the scoring with a 28-yard strike to Devron Harper.

Rechsteiner finished with 128 yards on just 10 carries for Kennesaw State. The Owls outgained Gardner-Webb 321 to 39 on the ground.

Whitlow completed 21 of 36 passes for 193 yards and two TDs with one pick. Gathings hauled in 11 passes for 117 yards and a score.