CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Austin Peay football cracked the AFCA FCS Top 25 Coaches’ Poll on Monday, landing at No. 19 after defeating then No. 20-ranked Southeast Missouri 28-24 Saturday at Fortera Stadium.
This is the highest-ranking Austin Peay has ever held in the Coaches’ Poll, besting a No. 21 ranking the Govs were slotted at a season ago.
The victory against SEMO marked the first time in school history that the Governors have knocked off ranked teams in back-to-back games.
In their previous contest, the Govs defeated OVC powerhouse Jacksonville State 52-33 to open up conference play.
What makes the win even more impressive for the Governors is that they got the job done without their leading rusher.
Kentel Williams was forced to miss the game due to a lower-body injury sustained in the game against JSU.
In his absence, Ahmaad Tanner shouldered the load on the ground for Austin Peay. He finished the game with 76 yards rushing and three total touchdowns, including a game-winning 1-yard touchdown run to beat SEMO.
Austin Peay senior quarterback JaVaughn Craig turned in another quality performance, going 17-of-28 for 243 yards and two touchdowns against the Redhawks.
DeAngelo Wilson was once again one of Craig’s scoring recipients, hauling in his sixth touchdown grab of the season.
Kordell Jackson continued his knack for coming up with takeaways, recording his fifth interception of the year after picking off the Redhawk quarterback.
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Austin Peay (4-2, 2-0) and UT-Martin (4-2, 3-0) remain the only two unbeaten teams in the OVC.
The Governors will travel to Nashville take on Tennessee State (1-6, 0-3) Saturday, Oct. 18 at Nissan Stadium, as Austin Peay searches for its third win in a row.