Kennesaw State Dominates First Quarter, Holds Off Middle Tennessee
Kennesaw State defeated Middle Tennessee 24-16 in Week 5 action. The Owls set the tone early, scoring 21 points in the first quarter behind a 53-yard touchdown pass from Amari Odom to Chase Belcher. Middle Tennessee answered with a 10-yard rushing touchdown from Jekail Middlebrook in the second quarter, but the Blue Raiders struggled to maintain momentum.
Middle Tennessee's offense, led by Nick Vattiato's 285 passing yards, couldn't overcome an early deficit. Vattiato connected with Nahzae Cox for a team-high 77 receiving yards, but a second-quarter interception returned by Five Hamilton stalled a potential scoring drive. The Blue Raiders added a field goal in the second quarter and another touchdown in the fourth, but it proved insufficient.
Kennesaw State sealed the win with a field goal in the fourth quarter. The game finished under the 53.5 over-under, with the Owls covering their seven-point spread. The contest remained relatively one-sided throughout, with no lead changes recorded.
AI-generated recap · Aug 13, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Middle Tennessee | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
 Kennesaw State | 21 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Middle Tennessee | Kennesaw State |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 28-42 | 13-20 |
| Pass Yards | 285 | 177 |
| Rush Yards | 155 | 157 |
| Total Yards | 440 | 334 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 5-14 | 1-8 |
| Penalties | 6-55 | 5-40 |
| Possession | 38:59 | 21:01 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Jekail Middlebrook run for 5 yds to the MTSU 30
(14:32) No Huddle-Shotgun Vattiato,Nicholas pass incomplete short left to Cox,Nahzae thrown to MTSU35 PENALTY MTSU Ineligible Downfield on Pass (Harris,E.J.) 5 yards from MTSU30 to MTSU25. NO PLAY.
Jekail Middlebrook run for 5 yds to the MTSU 30 Jekail Middlebrook fumbled, recovered by KENN Tylon Dunlap
Amari Odom run for 4 yds to the MTSU 26
Coleman Bennett run for 13 yds to the MTSU 13 for a 1ST down
Christian Moss pass complete to Gerard Bullock Jr. for 13 yds for a TD Middle Tennessee Penalty, (Yards) declined (Britton Williams KICK)
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Gamarion Carter for 15 yds to the MTSU 40 for a 1ST down
(11:52) No Huddle-Shotgun Vattiato,Nicholas pass complete short left to Butler,Myles caught at MTSU38, for 8 yards to the MTSU48 (Ford,Alex; Offord,Caleb) PENALTY MTSU Holding (Walker,Amorion) 10 yards from MTSU40 to MTSU30. NO PLAY.
Jekail Middlebrook run for 7 yds to the MTSU 37
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to AJ Jones
Nicholas Vattiato run for 6 yds to the MTSU 43
Ashton Logan punt for 44 yds
Gabriel Benyard run for 7 yds to the KENN 20
Coleman Bennett run for 8 yds to the KENN 28 for a 1ST down
Amari Odom pass complete to Gerard Bullock Jr. for 19 yds to the KENN 47 for a 1ST down
Amari Odom pass incomplete to Gabriel Benyard
Amari Odom pass complete to Chase Belcher for 53 yds for a TD (Britton Williams KICK)
Britton Williams kickoff for 60 yds , Juwon Gaston return for 20 yds to the MTSU 25
Nicholas Vattiato run for 4 yds to the MTSU 29
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Cam'ron Lacy for 7 yds to the MTSU 36 for a 1ST down
Rickey Hunt Jr. run for 4 yds to the MTSU 40
Kennesaw State Penalty, Face Mask (15 yards) (Ugonna Nwoha) to the KENN 45 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Nahzae Cox for 25 yds to the KENN 20 for a 1ST down
(05:32) PENALTY MTSU False Start 5 yards from KSU20 to KSU25. NO PLAY.
Jekail Middlebrook run for 2 yds to the KENN 23
Jekail Middlebrook run for 6 yds to the KENN 17
Jekail Middlebrook run for 1 yd to the KENN 16
Jacob Hathaway 34 yd FG GOOD
Baylen Woodman kickoff for 63 yds , Tykeem Wallace return for 22 yds to the KENN 24
Alexander Diggs run for 1 yd to the KENN 25
Amari Odom run for 6 yds to the KENN 31
Amari Odom pass incomplete to Gabriel Benyard
Joshua Huiet punt for 44 yds, fair catch by Jekail Middlebrook at the MTSU 25
Rickey Hunt Jr. run for no gain to the MTSU 25
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Myles Butler for 6 yds to the MTSU 31
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Nahzae Cox
Ashton Logan punt for 46 yds , Gabriel Benyard returns for 15 yds to the KENN 38
Coleman Bennett run for 3 yds to the KENN 41
Coleman Bennett run for 30 yds to the MTSU 29 for a 1ST down
Amari Odom pass complete to Gabriel Benyard for 29 yds for a TD (Britton Williams KICK)
DJ Taylor run for 13 yds to the MTSU 38 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to AJ Jones for 7 yds to the MTSU 45
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to DJ Taylor for 3 yds to the MTSU 48 for a 1ST down
DJ Taylor run for 7 yds to the KENN 45
Nicholas Vattiato run for 4 yds to the KENN 41 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Myles Butler for 5 yds to the KENN 36
(11:01) No Huddle-Shotgun Middlebrook,Jekail rush middle for 7 yards gain to the KSU29 (Washington Jr.,JeRico) PENALTY MTSU Holding (Harris,E.J.) 10 yards from KSU36 to KSU46. NO PLAY.
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Jekail Middlebrook for 3 yds to the KENN 43
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Jekail Middlebrook for 3 yds to the KENN 40
Ashton Logan punt for 27 yds, fair catch by Gabriel Benyard at the KENN 13
Clayton Coppock run for 9 yds to the KENN 22
Alexander Diggs run for 1 yd to the KENN 23 for a 1ST down
Alexander Diggs run for 7 yds to the KENN 30 Alexander Diggs fumbled, recovered by MTSU Devan Carlisle
Jekail Middlebrook run for 6 yds to the KENN 24
Nicholas Vattiato run for 2 yds to the KENN 22
Jekail Middlebrook run for 6 yds to the KENN 16 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Nahzae Cox for 3 yds to the KENN 13
Jekail Middlebrook run for 4 yds to the KENN 9
Nicholas Vattiato run for a loss of 1 yard to the KENN 10
Jekail Middlebrook run for 10 yds for a TD (Jacob Hathaway KICK)
Gabriel Benyard run for 7 yds to the KENN 32
Chase Belcher run for 5 yds to the KENN 37 for a 1ST down
Amari Odom pass complete to Lyndon Ravare for 13 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
(03:06) No Huddle-Shotgun Odom,Amari pass incomplete deep right to Ravare,Lyndon thrown to MTSU10 PENALTY MTSU Pass Interference (Carlisle,Devan) 15 yards from KSU50 to MTSU35, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Amari Odom run for 1 yd to the MTSU 34
Gabriel Benyard run for 1 yd to the MTSU 33
Coleman Bennett run for 4 yds to the MTSU 29
Britton Williams 47 yd FG MISSED
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Amorion Walker
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Hunter Tipton
Jekail Middlebrook run for 12 yds to the MTSU 41 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Myles Butler for 20 yds to the KENN 39 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato sacked by Donovan Westmoreland for a loss of 2 yards to the KENN 41
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Nahzae Cox for 35 yds to the KENN 6 for a 1ST down
Jekail Middlebrook run for 4 yds to the KENN 2
Jekail Middlebrook run for no gain to the KENN 2
Nicholas Vattiato pass intercepted Five Hamilton return for no gain to the KENN 1
Coleman Bennett run for 5 yds to the KENN 6
End of 2nd Quarter
Amari Odom pass incomplete to Gabriel Benyard
Amari Odom pass complete to Coleman Bennett for 7 yds to the KENN 32
Tykeem Wallace run for a loss of 2 yards to the KENN 49 Tykeem Wallace fumbled, recovered by KENN Tykeem Wallace
Amari Odom pass complete to Clayton Coppock for 1 yd to the 50 yard line
Coleman Bennett run for 19 yds to the MTSU 49 for a 1ST down
Joshua Huiet punt for 34 yds, fair catch by Jekail Middlebrook at the MTSU 16
Jekail Middlebrook run for 1 yd to the MTSU 17
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Amorion Walker for 12 yds to the MTSU 29 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Hunter Tipton for 9 yds to the MTSU 38
Jekail Middlebrook run for 4 yds to the MTSU 42 for a 1ST down
(10:19) No Huddle-Shotgun Middlebrook,Jekail rush left for 7 yards gain to the MTSU49 (Daniels,Rod) PENALTY MTSU Holding (Guevara,Mateo) 10 yards from MTSU42 to MTSU32. NO PLAY.
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Nahzae Cox for 14 yds to the MTSU 46
Rickey Hunt Jr. run for 7 yds to the KENN 47 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato run for no gain to the KENN 47
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to AJ Jones
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to AJ Jones
Ashton Logan punt for 47 yds for a touchback
Amari Odom run for 13 yds to the KENN 33 for a 1ST down
Chase Belcher run for 4 yds to the KENN 37
Amari Odom pass complete to Gabriel Benyard for 7 yds to the KENN 44 for a 1ST down
Amari Odom pass incomplete to Gabriel Benyard
Amari Odom pass incomplete to Gerard Bullock Jr.
Amari Odom run for 2 yds to the KENN 46
(06:16) PENALTY KSU False Start (Moss,Karson) 5 yards from KSU46 to KSU41. NO PLAY.
Joshua Huiet punt for 48 yds
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Myles Butler
DJ Taylor run for 2 yds to the MTSU 13
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Cam'ron Lacy for 9 yds to the MTSU 22 for a 1ST down
DJ Taylor run for 2 yds to the MTSU 24
Nicholas Vattiato run for 4 yds to the MTSU 28
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Cam'ron Lacy for 13 yds to the MTSU 41 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Cam'ron Lacy for 9 yds to the 50 yard line
Jekail Middlebrook run for 8 yds to the KENN 42 for a 1ST down
(01:35) No Huddle-Shotgun Vattiato,Nicholas pass incomplete deep right to Walker,Amorion thrown to KSU10 PENALTY KSU Illegal Substitution 5 yards from KSU42 to KSU37. NO PLAY.
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Jekail Middlebrook for 6 yds to the KENN 31 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Kason Stokes for 7 yds to the KENN 24
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Hunter Tipton for 15 yds to the KENN 9 for a 1ST down
Jekail Middlebrook run for 9 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
Amari Odom run for 8 yds to the KENN 33
Coleman Bennett run for 11 yds to the KENN 44 for a 1ST down
Coleman Bennett run for 2 yds to the KENN 46
Amari Odom pass complete to Gabriel Benyard for no gain to the KENN 46
Amari Odom pass complete to Clayton Coppock for 18 yds to the MTSU 36 for a 1ST down
Amari Odom pass complete to Javon Rogers for 10 yds to the MTSU 26 for a 1ST down
Amari Odom pass incomplete to Coleman Bennett
Coleman Bennett run for no gain to the MTSU 26
Amari Odom pass complete to Gabriel Benyard for 5 yds to the MTSU 21
Daniel Kinney 39 yd FG GOOD
Britton Williams kickoff for 63 yds , Juwon Gaston return for 20 yds to the MTSU 22
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Amorion Walker for 3 yds to the MTSU 25
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Hunter Tipton for 21 yds to the MTSU 46 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Myles Butler for 3 yds to the MTSU 43
(08:27) No Huddle-Shotgun Vattiato,Nicholas rush left for 0 yards to the MTSU43 (Nwoha,Ugonna) PENALTY KSU Holding (Zollicoffer,Elijah) 10 yards from MTSU43 to KSU47, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Cam'ron Lacy
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Cam'ron Lacy for 4 yds to the MTSU 49
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Cam'ron Lacy for 27 yds to the KENN 24 for a 1ST down
Jekail Middlebrook run for 8 yds to the KENN 16
Jekail Middlebrook run for 6 yds to the KENN 10 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato run for a loss of 6 yards to the KENN 16 Nicholas Vattiato fumbled, recovered by MTSU Nicholas Vattiato
Jekail Middlebrook run for 5 yds to the KENN 11
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Myles Butler
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to AJ Jones
Coleman Bennett run for 3 yds to the KENN 14
Tommy Ulatowski pass complete to Gerard Bullock Jr. for 2 yds to the KENN 17
Joshua Huiet punt for 40 yds , Abdul Muhammad returns for 4 yds to the MTSU 47
Tommy Ulatowski run for 1 yd to the KENN 15
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Cam'ron Lacy for 17 yds to the KENN 36 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Cam'ron Lacy for 2 yds to the KENN 38
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Nahzae Cox
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Jekail Middlebrook
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Nahzae Cox
Coleman Bennett run for 3 yds to the KENN 41
T. Ulatowski takes a knee
T. Ulatowski takes a knee
Tommy Ulatowski pass incomplete