Kennesaw State holds off late Merrimack surge, 27-13
Kennesaw State defeated Merrimack 27-13 in Week 3 action, with the Owls controlling much of the contest before the Raiders mounted a fourth-quarter comeback attempt. The home team built a 17-point lead through three quarters, outscoring Merrimack 17-0 through the first half and early second half before allowing 13 unanswered points in the final frame.
Dexter Williams II led Kennesaw State's passing attack with 88 yards, while Alexander Diggs recorded 9 receptions. Merrimack's Ayden Pereira led all rushers with 62 yards and connected with receivers Jalen McDonald multiple times to drive the Raiders into scoring position late.
The game featured significant momentum swings, with six lead changes and a maximum win probability swing of 38 percent. A pivotal fourth-quarter play saw Merrimack's RJ Chapman return an interception 85 yards, though a two-point conversion attempt failed. Despite the late surge, Merrimack couldn't overcome Kennesaw State's early dominance. The game finished under the 44.5-point over-under, with Merrimack covering the 17-point spread.
AI-generated recap · Aug 17, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Merrimack | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 |
 Kennesaw State | 0 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 27 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Merrimack | Kennesaw State |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 13-25 | 21-31 |
| Pass Yards | 215 | 196 |
| Rush Yards | 79 | 173 |
| Total Yards | 294 | 369 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 8-16 | 5-12 |
| Penalties | 12-83 | 12-102 |
| Possession | 36:48 | 23:47 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Ayden Pereira sacked by Marcus Patterson for a loss of 4 yards to the MRMK 3
Brendon Wyatt run for 1 yd to the MRMK 4
Brendon Wyatt run for 37 yds to the MRMK 41 for a 1ST down
Ayden Pereira pass complete to DeMarcus McElroy for 7 yds to the MRMK 48
No Huddle-Shotgun Brown,Keshawn rush right for 9 yards gain to the KSU43 (Hopson,Baron) PENALTY MC Holding 10 yards from MC48 to MC38. NO PLAY.
Ayden Pereira run for a loss of 2 yards to the MRMK 36
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to DeMarcus McElroy
Ayden Pereira pass complete to Jalen McDonald for 19 yds to the KENN 45 for a 1ST down
Ayden Pereira run for no gain to the KENN 45
Coleman Bennett run for 15 yds to the MRMK 40 for a 1ST down
PENALTY KSU False Start (Chenault,Josiah) 5 yards from MC41 to MC46. NO PLAY.
Coleman Bennett run for a loss of 1 yard to the MRMK 41
Amari Odom run for 6 yds to the MRMK 40
Amari Odom pass complete to Gabriel Benyard for 2 yds to the MRMK 38
Joshua Huiet punt for 35 yds
Ayden Pereira run for a loss of 1 yard to the MRMK 2
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to Austin Palmer
Ayden Pereira run for 26 yds to the MRMK 28 for a 1ST down
Hayden Fisher run for 4 yds to the MRMK 32
Ayden Pereira pass complete to Seth Sweitzer for 5 yds to the MRMK 37
DeMarcus McElroy run for 3 yds to the MRMK 40 for a 1ST down
Brendon Wyatt run for 2 yds to the MRMK 42
Ayden Pereira run for 4 yds to the MRMK 46
Ayden Pereira run for 3 yds to the MRMK 49
Ayden Pereira run for a loss of 1 yard to the MRMK 48
(14:04) No Huddle-Shotgun Odom,Amari pass incomplete deep right to Benyard,Gabriel thrown to MC00 PENALTY KSU Holding (Lee,JaDarious) 10 yards from MC34 to MC44. NO PLAY.
Amari Odom pass incomplete to Tykeem Wallace
Amari Odom pass complete to Gabriel Benyard for 14 yds to the MRMK 34 for a 1ST down
Coleman Bennett run for 6 yds to the MRMK 38
(13:18) No Huddle-Shotgun Odom,Amari pass complete deep middle to Benyard,Gabriel caught at MC00, for 38 yards to the MC00 TOUCHDOWN nullified by penalty, clock 13:42 PENALTY KSU Holding (Milovac,Nikola) 10 yards from MC38 to MC48. NO PLAY.
Amari Odom pass complete to Coleman Bennett for 9 yds to the MRMK 39
Joshua Huiet punt for 36 yds
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to Jalen McDonald
Ayden Pereira pass complete to Hayden Fisher for 20 yds to the MRMK 23 for a 1ST down
Brendon Wyatt run for a loss of 2 yards to the MRMK 21
PENALTY MC False Start (Callahan,Cade) 5 yards from MC21 to MC16. NO PLAY.
Brendon Wyatt run for 1 yd to the MRMK 17
Ayden Pereira run for 19 yds to the MRMK 36 for a 1ST down
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to Cade Callahan
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to Stephon Patrick
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to Hayden Fisher
Mike Ryan punt for 49 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the KENN 15
Dexter Williams II pass complete to Alexander Diggs for 7 yds to the KENN 22
Dexter Williams II pass complete to Gerard Bullock Jr. for 2 yds to the KENN 24
Dexter Williams II pass incomplete to Lyndon Ravare
Alexander Diggs run for 1 yd to the KENN 25 for a 1ST down
Dexter Williams II pass incomplete to Lyndon Ravare
Alexander Diggs run for 25 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Dexter Williams II pass complete to Tykeem Wallace for 8 yds to the MRMK 40 for a 1ST down
PENALTY KSU False Start (Chenault,Josiah) 5 yards from MC40 to MC45. NO PLAY.
Dexter Williams II pass complete to Alexander Diggs for 2 yds to the MRMK 48
Alexander Diggs run for 7 yds to the MRMK 38
Dexter Williams II run for 6 yds to the MRMK 32
Dexter Williams II run for 4 yds for a TD (Britton Williams KICK)
Alexander Diggs run for 3 yds to the MRMK 29 for a 1ST down
Dexter Williams II pass complete to Christian Moss for 25 yds to the MRMK 4 for a 1ST down
Britton Williams kickoff for 60 yds , Austin Palmer return for 19 yds to the MRMK 24
Brendon Wyatt run for 3 yds to the MRMK 27
Ayden Pereira pass complete to Jalen McDonald for 17 yds to the MRMK 44 for a 1ST down
Ayden Pereira run for 4 yds to the MRMK 48
(01:40) PENALTY MC False Start (Steele,Lakeem) 5 yards from MC48 to MC43. NO PLAY.
(02:00) No Huddle-Shotgun Pereira,Ayden pass complete short right to Sweitzer,Seth caught at KSU40, for 17 yards to the KSU40 (Jones,Milon) PENALTY MC Holding 10 yards from MC43 to MC33. NO PLAY.
Ayden Pereira run for 7 yds to the MRMK 40
Mike Ryan punt for 52 yds for a touchback
Merrimack Penalty, (Yards) declined
PENALTY KSU UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Tookes,Ethan) 10 yards from KSU20 to KSU10. NO PLAY.
Dexter Williams II pass complete to Lyndon Ravare for 16 yds to the KENN 26
PENALTY KSU False Start 5 yards from KSU34 to KSU29. NO PLAY.
Dexter Williams II run for 16 yds to the KENN 45 for a 1ST down
Dexter Williams II pass incomplete to Chase Belcher
Dexter Williams II pass incomplete to Chase Belcher
Dexter Williams II pass incomplete to Gabriel Benyard
Dexter Williams II pass complete to for 8 yds to the KENN 34 for a 1ST down
(00:35) Huiet,Joshua punt 44 yards to the MC11 PENALTY MC Running Into The Kicker (Sims,Kendal) 5 yards from KSU45 to KSU50. NO PLAY.
Dexter Williams II pass complete to Christian Moss for 14 yds to the MRMK 36 for a 1ST down Merrimack Penalty, (5 Yards) to the MRMK 31 for a 1ST down
Dexter Williams II pass incomplete to Christian Moss
Dexter Williams II pass complete to Christian Moss for 6 yds to the MRMK 25
End of 2nd Quarter
Mike Ryan kickoff for 51 yds , Kody Jones return for 39 yds to the MRMK 47
Amari Odom pass incomplete to Christian Moss
PENALTY KSU UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Moss,Christian) 15 yards from MC39 to KSU46. NO PLAY.
Coleman Bennett run for 1 yd to the MRMK 46
Joshua Huiet punt for 42 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the MRMK 12
Amari Odom pass complete to Christian Moss for 7 yds to the MRMK 39
Ayden Pereira run for a loss of 1 yard to the MRMK 11
(12:32) No Huddle-Shotgun Pereira,Ayden pass complete deep right to McDonald,Jalen caught at MC45, for 38 yards to the MC49 (Ford,Alex) PENALTY MC Holding (Lizama,Steve) 6 yards from MC11 to MC05. NO PLAY.
Brendon Wyatt run for no gain to the MRMK 5
Ayden Pereira sacked by JeRico Washington Jr. for a loss of 4 yards to the MRMK 1
Mike Ryan punt for 38 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the MRMK 39
Gabriel Benyard run for 15 yds to the MRMK 24 for a 1ST down
Merrimack Penalty, (8 Yards) to the MRMK 7 for a 1ST down
Amari Odom run for 1 yd to the MRMK 23
Amari Odom pass complete to Gabriel Benyard for 7 yds for a TD (Britton Williams KICK)
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to Seth Sweitzer
Brendon Wyatt run for a loss of 2 yards to the MRMK 16
Britton Williams kickoff for 61 yds , Austin Palmer return for 14 yds to the MRMK 18
Mike Ryan punt for 35 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the MRMK 45 , Gabriel Benyard returns for 12 yds to the MRMK 19 Kennesaw State Penalty, Offensive Holding (Nacari Johnson) to the MRMK 45
Ayden Pereira sacked by Elijah Hill for a loss of 9 yards to the MRMK 7
Alexander Diggs run for 9 yds to the MRMK 36
(07:40) No Huddle-Shotgun Odom,Amari pass incomplete deep left to Bennett,Coleman thrown to MC00 PENALTY MC Pass Interference (Maryland,Nasir) 15 yards from MC30 to MC15, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Amari Odom pass complete to Gabriel Benyard for 6 yds to the MRMK 30 for a 1ST down
Amari Odom run for 12 yds for a TD (Britton Williams KICK)
Amari Odom pass complete to Lyndon Ravare for 3 yds to the MRMK 12
Britton Williams kickoff for 63 yds , Austin Palmer return for 20 yds to the MRMK 22
Aveon Smith pass complete to Jalen McDonald for 34 yds to the KENN 46 for a 1ST down
Ayden Pereira run for a loss of 2 yards to the MRMK 20
Aveon Smith pass incomplete to Cade Callahan
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to Jalen McDonald
(05:52) No Huddle-Shotgun Pereira,Ayden sacked for loss of 9 yards to the MC45 (Grimes,Jaiden) PENALTY KSU Personal Foul 15 yards from KSU46 to KSU31, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
DeMarcus McElroy run for no gain to the KENN 31
Ayden Pereira run for a loss of 2 yards to the KENN 33
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to Austin Palmer
Carlton Thai 50 yd FG MISSED
Coleman Bennett run for 4 yds to the KENN 37
Coleman Bennett run for no gain to the KENN 37
Amari Odom pass complete to Coleman Bennett for 18 yds to the MRMK 45 for a 1ST down
Amari Odom pass complete to Gabriel Benyard for 25 yds to the MRMK 20 for a 1ST down
Coleman Bennett run for no gain to the MRMK 20
Amari Odom pass complete to Tykeem Wallace for 6 yds to the MRMK 14
(01:18) No Huddle-Shotgun Odom,Amari rush right for 3 yards gain to the MC08 (Frazier,DJ) PENALTY KSU Holding (Milovac,Nikola) 9 yards from MC11 to MC20. NO PLAY.
Britton Williams 38 yd FG GOOD
Amari Odom pass complete to Lyndon Ravare for 3 yds to the MRMK 11
Ayden Pereira pass complete to Cade Callahan for 16 yds to the MRMK 41 for a 1ST down
Brendon Wyatt run for 2 yds to the MRMK 43
Ayden Pereira pass complete to Brendon Wyatt for 7 yds to the 50 yard line
Ayden Pereira run for 4 yds to the KENN 46 for a 1ST down
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to Jalen McDonald
Brendon Wyatt run for 3 yds to the KENN 43
Ayden Pereira sacked by Elijah Hill for a loss of 4 yards to the KENN 47
Ayden Pereira pass complete to Jalen McDonald for 34 yds to the KENN 13 for a 1ST down
Galamama Mulbah run for 4 yds to the KENN 9
(09:40) No Huddle-Shotgun Pereira,Ayden pass incomplete short right to Fisher,Hayden thrown to KSU00 PENALTY KSU Pass Interference (Washington Jr.,JeRico) 7 yards from KSU09 to KSU02, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
(10:13) No Huddle-Shotgun Pereira,Ayden pass incomplete short right to Fisher,Hayden thrown to KSU00 PENALTY KSU Roughing The Passer (Benyard,Garland) 1 yard from KSU02 to KSU01, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Ayden Pereira run for 1 yd for a TD (Carlton Thai KICK)
Mike Ryan kickoff for 25 yds , Karson Moss return for no gain to the KENN 40
Dexter Williams II run for 3 yds to the KENN 43
Dexter Williams II pass incomplete to Gabriel Benyard
PENALTY MC Offside (Wilborn Jr.,James) 5 yards from MC46 to MC41. NO PLAY.
Dexter Williams II run for 11 yds to the MRMK 46 for a 1ST down
Alexander Diggs run for 2 yds to the MRMK 39
Dexter Williams II run for 2 yds to the MRMK 37
Alexander Diggs run for 1 yd to the MRMK 36 for a 1ST down
RJ Chapman 85 Yd Interception Return (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)
Amari Odom run for 4 yds to the MRMK 46
Coleman Bennett run for 3 yds to the MRMK 43
Amari Odom run for 9 yds to the MRMK 34 for a 1ST down
Coleman Bennett run for 4 yds to the MRMK 30
Coleman Bennett run for 7 yds to the MRMK 23 for a 1ST down
Alexander Diggs run for 4 yds to the MRMK 19
Alexander Diggs run for 3 yds to the MRMK 16
Kennesaw State Penalty, Offensive Holding (Yards) declined
Britton Williams 44 yd FG GOOD
Britton Williams kickoff for 63 yds , Austin Palmer return for 15 yds to the MRMK 17
Brendon Wyatt run for a loss of 3 yards to the MRMK 14
Ayden Pereira pass incomplete to Jalen McDonald
Ayden Pereira pass complete to Seth Sweitzer for 2 yds to the MRMK 31
Ayden Pereira pass complete to Jalen McDonald for 12 yds to the MRMK 26
Ayden Pereira run for 7 yds to the MRMK 33 for a 1ST down
Ayden Pereira pass complete to Cooper Lehman for 13 yds to the MRMK 44 for a 1ST down
Ayden Pereira run for 6 yds to the 50 yard line