CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay football team is preparing for one of the biggest games of the season this weekend. The No. 6 Govs are welcoming the No. 24 Abilene Christian Wildcats to town, in a game that could have postseason implications.
The Govs are entering this contest with an 8-2 overall record, and a 4-1 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the Wildcats enter with a 5-5 overall record, and a 4-1 conference record. Abilene has had a brutal schedule, so if they have any hopes of making the playoffs, this is a must-win game for them.
For Austin Peay, since the team has already hit the eight-win mark, a playoff berth is all but locked up. The thing to watch now is how high the Govs can go in the rankings, and if they’ll land a first-round bye in the playoffs.
This will be the third meeting between the Wildcats and the Govs, with the Wildcats winning the first two. Now, let’s dive in and find out more about this much-anticipated matchup.
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What to know about Abilene Christian
As mentioned above, the Wildcats have had a tough schedule, but they’ve performed well against the UAC. The program’s only loss came last weekend to Tarleton State, which is also the only UAC team the Govs have lost to.
On offense, the Wildcats are led by dual threat quarterback Tucker Parks. Parks has thrown for 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns, while rushing for 452 yards and five scores. Cristian Driver is the team’s top pass-catcher with 32 catches for 514 yards and four touchdown receptions.
Overall, the Wildcats are averaging 357.7 yards of offense per game, with 154.0 coming on the ground, and 203.7 coming through the air. On defense, the Wildcats have allowed 359.5 yards per game and 24.2 points.
The Wildcats have not had much of a pass rush this season. Last weekend, Austin Peay’s David Portu picked up four sacks; no Abilene player has four sacks on the entire season.
Game prediction: Govs keep rolling, end Abilene’s playoff hopes
The Wildcats have gotten the better of the Govs for multiple seasons now. But these teams are different now, and the Govs still have everything to play for. We’ve seen Austin Peay overcome their road woes this season, and end a losing a streak against EKU, so why not end another streak here?
This game has all the makings of a shootout. Parks and the Wildcats can score points, but so can Chris Parson and the Govs. As a result, this one could come down to who has the better defense, and on paper, that’s clearly Austin Peay. I think this is a close game throughout until the Govs pull away late and improve to 9-2 on the season.
The game between the Govs and Wildcats is at 1p.m. Saturday at Fortera Stadium. For tickets, go to the Austin Peay page on Ticketmaster or call 931-221-PEAY (7329).
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