Running back Chris Edmonds (21) and wide receiver Develle Barksdale celebrate Chicago State’s first victory as a Division I football team, 78-7 against Kentucky Christian. (Photo courtesy SeatGeek Stadium)
By Barry Bottino
Chicago State celebrated its first football victory as an FCS newcomer Saturday at SeatGeek Stadium, and the Cougars did so in impressive fashion.
CSU quarterback Ashton Pannell threw for three first-half touchdowns as the team piled up 580 yards of total offense in a 78-7 victory against NAIA Kentucky Christian.
The Cougars raced to a 49-7 halftime lead as Pannell connected with three different receivers for scores.
Running back Chris Edmonds, a transfer from FBS Bowling Green, scored three rushing touchdowns and caught a TD pass while piling up 74 all-purpose yards.
Wide receiver Kymari Gray had seven catches for 111 yards and grabbed two touchdowns.
Pannell finished the day 22-for-25 passing for 308 yards.
The CSU defense collected four turnovers and turned two of them into points.
Safety Jayden Earley returned a second-quarter interception 62 yards for a touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, linebacker Lesroy Tittle turned an interception into an 82-yard score.
CSU’s defense allowed Kentucky Christian only 229 total yards and 62 rushing yards.
Game changers
0:19, 2nd quarter: Pannell threw his third touchdown of the first half, a 17-yard scoring strike to RB Chris Edmonds.
7:58, 4th quarter: Tittle returned an interception 82 yards for a CSU touchdown, the team’s second defensive score of the game.
5:19, 4th quarter: Wide receiver Seth Myers completed the scoring with a 33-yard TD reception from QB Jacob Tiberi.
What it means
The Cougars celebrated the team’s first victory in school history.
What’s next?
The Cougars travel to Indianapolis for a noon kickoff Sept. 19 against FCS Butler.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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