Hatters Fall Just Short Against Owls

Stetson rallies in second quarter but can't complete comeback against Kennesaw State

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:37pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college football game between two teams, with the players and field broken down into overlapping angular shapes in navy blue, gold, black, and gold colors.A close loss against a regional rival highlights the Stetson Hatters' potential to compete at the college level.Kennesaw Today

The Stetson Hatters fell just short in an 11-10 loss to the Kennesaw State Owls on Thursday at Fifth Third Stadium. Stetson used a strong second quarter to erase an early deficit but was ultimately unable to complete the comeback.

Why it matters

This close loss is a setback for the Stetson Hatters as they look to build momentum in their college athletics program. The Hatters have been working to establish themselves as a competitive force in their conference, and this narrow defeat against a regional rival is a tough result that the team will need to bounce back from.

The details

Stetson fell behind early but rallied in the second quarter to tie the game 7-7 at halftime. However, Kennesaw State was able to regain the lead in the second half and hold on for the 11-10 victory despite a late push from the Hatters.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at Fifth Third Stadium.
  • Stetson erased an early deficit to tie the game 7-7 at halftime.

The players

Stetson Hatters

The college athletics program of Stetson University, located in DeLand, Florida.

Kennesaw State Owls

The college athletics program of Kennesaw State University, located in Kennesaw, Georgia.

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The takeaway

This close loss is a setback for the Stetson Hatters, but it also shows the team's potential to compete against regional rivals. The Hatters will need to regroup and learn from this experience as they continue to build their college athletics program.