CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Fresh off its bye week, Austin Peay football welcomes in nationally-ranked Southeast Missouri on Saturday in a pivotal Ohio Valley Conference matchup.

Last year’s game between the two teams came down to the wire, but it was the Redhawks who eventually pulled out a 31-27 win. SEMO will be the third ranked opponent Austin Peay will play so far in 2019.

In its previous contest, Southeast Missouri needed double overtime to topple Tennessee Tech 43-37.

Zion Custis broke off a 13-yard touchdown run and the Redhawks defense halted the Golden Eagles offense to win the game.

The Governors hope the extra two frames might bring some weary Redhawks to “The Fort” on Saturday.

Kristian Wilkerson hauled in five passes for 124 yards, breaking SEMO’s school career receiving yardage record with 2,623 in the game against the Golden Eagles.

On defense, Redhawk senior DJ Freeman recorded six tackles, a sack, two pass breakups and an interception against TTU.

Austin Peay will enter its sixth game of the season, riding high after taking down the five-time defending OVC champion Jacksonville State 52-33. With the win, the Governors ended a 12-game losing streak to the Gamecocks and picked up their first victory at home over JSU since 1960.

The first half was completely one-sided as, Austin Peay took a 31-7 lead into the break. The Gov offense wasn’t done there, as they rattled off two touchdowns in the first four minutes of the third quarter to put the game on ice.

Governor senior quarterback JaVaughn Craig had a career day against JSU, finding the end zone five total times and earning OVC Offensive Player of the Week honors in the process.

Kentel Williams continued to move his way up the APSU record books, as the running back became the third player in program history to eclipse more than 4,000 all-purpose yards and just the fifth player to reach 20 career touchdowns. Williams rushed for 173 yards and two scores against the Gamecocks.

Austin Peay defensive back Kordell Williams also made his mark on the game in a big way two weeks ago, picking off Jacksonville State two times in the game. Jackson is the only player in Division I so far in 2019 to accomplish the feat of recording multiple interceptions in two or more games.

If the Redhawk plan of attack is to run the ball on the Govs, SEMO may want to think twice. The Governors are ranked No. 1 nationally in rush defense, allowing just 68 yards per game on the ground to their opponents.

Austin Peay (3-2, 1-0) hosts Southeast Missouri (3-2, 1-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 at Fortera Stadium.

Austin Peay encourages all fans to wear white for Saturday’s contest. In addition, a limited number of special edition t-shirt jerseys, sponsored by Dex Imaging, will be available to fans upon entry to the facility.

The APSU athletics department is also welcoming all area youth to Fortera Stadium. Children 12 and under will receive free admission to the game against SEMO. Parents may take advantage of a special general admission ticket by using the promo code YOUTH at LetsGoPeay.com/BuyTickets.