Kennesaw State Falls to Western michigan in Myrtle Beach Bowl, Completes Historic Season
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Kennesaw State University’s football team concluded its inaugural bowl game appearance with a 41-6 loss to Western Michigan University in the 2025 Myrtle Beach Bowl on Friday afternoon at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. Despite the setback, the Conference USA Champion Owls (10-4) finished a season marked by significant achievement and program milestones.
The Owls struggled to contain the MAC Champion Broncos (10-4) early in the contest,falling behind 27-0 after the first quarter. KSU’s offense faced challenges converting opportunities,with four turnovers proving costly. Western michigan capitalized on this, averaging 8.1 yards per play in the first half, a figure that decreased to 5.4 in the second.
Despite the difficult scoreline, moments of brilliance shone through for kennesaw state. Quarterback Amari Odom connected with wide receiver Javon Rogers for a program-record 82-yard touchdown, marking Rogers’ first career touchdown reception. Rogers finished the game with 111 receiving yards, the 13th-highest single-game total in program history.
“We saw some explosive plays today, and that’s encouraging,” a senior official stated. “Javon’s touchdown was a special moment, and a testament to the potential of this team.”
Running back Chase Belcher also delivered a standout performance, rushing for a career-high 148 yards on 16 carries, averaging an impressive 9.2 yards per carry. Belcher did not record a single negative run during the game.His performance marked the Owls’ fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season and the 62nd in program history.
On the defensive side, Kennesaw State forced two turnovers. jerico Washington Jr. forced his second fumble of the season in the second quarter, recovered by Milon Jones, while Caleb Offord secured his first interception of the year, taking it away from the 2-yard line.
Baron Hopson, the CUSA Co-Defensive Player of the Year, led the game with 12 tackles, including half a tackle for loss. This performance extended his streak to nine games in 2025 with double-digit tackles, placing him third nationally among FBS players (behind Quinton Urwiler of Northern Illinois and Owen Long of Colorado State).
The 10-4 finish represents Kennesaw State’s best season since 2021 and came within one win of setting a new program record for wins in its second year of reclassification from FCS to FBS. The Owls now hold a 6-5 all-time record in postseason games and are 0-1 against Western Michigan.
Season Highlights & Program Growth
Kennesaw State’s 2025 campaign was defined by several key achievements:
- The team’s 10-4 record ties for the second-best record by a team in its second year of reclassification from FCS to FBS in NCAA history.
- The Owls achieved their best final record as finishing 11-2 in 2021.
- The team’s five 100-yard receiving games this season set a new program record, surpassing the previous high of four set in 2016.
- Chase Belcher’s 148 rushing yards represent the fourth 100-yard rushing game for KSU this season.
Supporting Kennesaw State Athletics
Fans interested in supporting Kennesaw State Athletics can contribute through The Owls Fund, the primary fundraising arm of the program. Initiatives include Legacy Lockers, the Dot Martin Scholarship Golf Classic, and direct donations. More information on supporting the Owls can be found [hear](link to Owls Fund – placeholder).
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