CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After a season-opening win, Austin Peay State University will continue its nonconference slate against Southeastern Conference foe Ole Miss in a 6:30 p.m. Saturday football matchup at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.

Saturday’s meeting will pit Scotty Walden, the current youngest Division I head coach, against Lane Kiffin, who held that title when he was hired for his first Division I head coaching job in 2008.

Starting the season strong

The Governors opened the season with a 30-20 win on the road against in-state rival Chattanooga. Walden has led the Govs to three-straight victories, with all three wins coming against top-20 ranked FCS opponents. Ole Miss and second-year head coach Lane Kiffin opened its season with a convincing 43-24 win against Louisville in the Chick-fil-A kickoff game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

On the offensive end, Baniko Harley and Ahmaad Tanner led the Governors, each posting 100 yards and a receiving touchdown against the Mocs. Quarterback Draylen Ellis completed 24-of-32 passes for four touchdowns and a career-high 326 yards in the season opener, he found newcomers DJ Render and Drae McCray for the other two passing scores.

OVC Defensive Player of the Week Johnathon Edwards led Austin Peay on the other side of the ball, intercepting two passes in the season opener. Two-time consensus All-American Kordell Jackson racked up a team-best eight tackles against the Mocs, with 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. Graduate defensive back Koby Perry also picked up seven tackles, with 1.5 for a loss and a sack against Chattanooga.

Not the favorite, unless they are

The Ohio Valley Conference’s Predicted Order of Finish tapped Austin Peay to finish tied for second during the league’s media days in July. APSU was picked behind preseason favorite Murray State and tied with co-second place Southeast Missouri – both teams the Govs defeated in the spring. However, the two preseason FCS polls had the Governors listed among their Top 25, something no other OVC team could claim.

With 29 wins since 2017, the Govs are five shy of setting the program record for wins in a five-season span. That record is 33 victories, set twice, most recently 40 years ago (1976-80 and 1977-81).

Saturday’s showdown against Chattanooga will be streamed live on the ESPN+ app, and the radio broadcast can be heard on 104.1 FM/540 AM ESPN Clarksville.