The Clark Atlanta University Panthers challenged fifth-ranked FCS team Kennesaw State early but succumbed to KSU's nationally-ranked ground game in falling to the Owls 70-13 Saturday.<br /> <br /> Clark Atlanta (0-4) jumped ahead of Kennesaw State (3-1) a little more than five minutes into the game. The CAU offense took advantage of Amon Crumpton's recovery of a KSU fumble, turning it into a 17-yard, Charles Stafford-to-Josh Banks touchdown to go up 6-0.<br /> <br /> KSU countered with a 68-yard touchdown drive, capped by a Chandler Burks touchdown run, to take the lead at 7-6.<br /> <br /> On the very next KSU possession, the Panthers forced another fumble, this one after a Ty Woods punt, putting CAU on the Kennesaw State 25-yard line.  They only needed one play, a Stafford touchdown pass to Deondre McNeil , to retake the lead at 13-7.<br /> <br /> But then KSU turned to their running game – which is ranked second in the country – on the next drive to take the lead for good 14-13, just before the end of a back-and-forth first quarter.<br /> <br /> The Owls then took over the game, picking off a Stafford pass and then taking 14 plays to turn it into a touchdown, followed by Jace White picking off another Stafford pass and retuning it 32 yards for a touchdown to go up 28-13.  KSU added another TD just before the end of the half to go up 35-13.<br /> <br /> KSU then used it's bruising option game to score three third quarter TDs and two more in the fourth to put the game out of reach.<br /> <br /> KSU had 392 yards of offense, 339 of it on the ground.  They were led by Burks, who rushed for two touchdowns and threw another. Shaquil Terry led Kennesaw State with 70 yards rushing and added two TDs.<br /> <br /> Stafford led the CAU offense by going 10-of-27 passing with 140 yards and two touchdowns. But KSU picked off three Stafford passes.  Banks caught three passes for 41 yards and a TD, while Roger Thomas led the CAU ground game with 37 yards.<br /> <br /> On defense, Crumpton led CAU with nine tackles, five solo and four assisted, while Ezekiel Edmonds, last week's SIAC Newcomer of the Week, had another big day with eight tackles, one for loss. William Profit made seven stops while Kameron Rogers had six, five of them solo.<br /> <br /> CAU Head Coach Kevin Ramsey said he was impressed with the way his Division II Panthers stood toe-to-toe with the FCS Kennesaw State team that made the playoffs last season.<br /> <br /> "The start of the game, the way we competed and our defense talked well," he said.  "If we carry that momentum from this game with a ball club like this, our best is yet to come.  We came out healthy, because [KSU] is a physical team.  We just have to carry this momentum and watch film and get back home and the 'W.'"<br /> <br /> CAU returns to Panther Stadium next Saturday when they host Allen University at 5 p.m.<br />  <br />  <br />