JACKSONVILLE, Alabama — (ESPNCLARKSVILLE) Austin Peay State University’s football team visited eighth-ranked Jacksonville State and pressured the Gamecocks all evening, falling in a high-octane offensive effort, 48-32, at Burgess-Snow Field.
After forcing a Jacksonville State three-and-out to open the game, the Govs marched 66 yards on nine plays to strike the game’s opening blow via a six-yard sidearm sling from sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall to junior wide receiver DJ Montgomery, who stretched every bit of his 6-2 frame to will his way into the end zone for his season’s second touchdown.
Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 34 yards and bounced the first touch of the drive outside for 32 more, putting the Govs down inside the Gamecock 25-yard line. Birchfield converted another field goal, again from 34 yards, to make it a two-point game with three minutes go in the half. The Gamecocks would have two possessions over the final three minutes, but were unable to add to their lead and the Govs went into the locker room trailing by two.
Back came the Govs with a quick-strike, 27-yard touchdown pass from Oatsvall to DeAngelo Wilson to cap a six-play, 75-yard march. Montgomery picked up a large chunk of that himself, adjusting his body in mid-air to comeback and grab a 29-yard reception to put the Govs in Jacksonville State territory—his season’s 18th catch, equaling his total from the entire 2017 campaign.
The two teams traded punts on their next drives with Jacksonville State taking over near midfield after an APSU punt and orchestrating a quick drive that ended with a 31-yard pass from Cooper to Hester for a touchdown.
After the Govs ensuing drive ended in a punt, Austin Peay created another turnover when Malik Davis hauled in his first career interception and returned it 10 yards to inside the Jacksonville State 30-yard line. Oatsvall, who had spent extended time on the turf after being sandwiched by a pair of Gamecock defenders on the previous drive, returned and found Montgomery for a 24-yard touchdown pass to bring the Govs back within a score at the end of the third quarter.
With under a minute to go, Oatsvall found Tre Nation in the flat and the speedster from Leeds, Alabama took it 75 yards for his first career receiving touchdown. However, the Govs could not secure the ensuing onside kick attempt.
Oatsvall threw for 245 yards and four scores, both career-highs, and the first four-passing touchdown game by a Gov since 2016. Defensively, Scholato and Juantarius Bryant led the way with nine tackles apiece.
At long last, the Govs will return home next week to host Tennessee State—who threw a scare into a road SEC foe in a 31-27 loss at Vanderbilt earlier on Saturday. Kick-off between the Govs and Tigers is set for 6 p.m. at Fortera Stadium.