Shepherd boosts Kennesaw St. past Charleston Southern

KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — Xavier Shepherd accounted for 220 total yards and three touchdowns and Kennesaw State led all the way en route to a 30-20 win over Charleston Southern on Saturday.

Shepherd threw for 158 yards and a touchdown and ran 28 times for 62 yards and a pair of scores. His 37-yard scoring pass to Gabriel Benyard made it 10-0 with 5:35 remaining before halftime.

Jeremiah McClendon got Charleston Southern back in it when he intercepted Shepherd for 25-yard pick-6 to cut its deficit to three. Conor Cummins pushed the lead to 13-7 with 10 seconds before intermission with a 29-yard field goal.

After the teams exchange scores in the third — one of which was a 1-yard Shepherd plunge — his 3-yarder with 10:28 left sealed it for the Owls.

JD Moore and TJ Ruff each scored rushing touchdowns for the Buccaneers (1-7).