JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The Austin Peay State University football accomplished a pair of season first against No. 3 Jacksonville State after becoming the first FCS team to rush for over 100 yards and limiting the Gamecocks to under 100 yards through the air in a 34-14 loss Saturday afternoon in Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium.

The Governors were tied with the Gamecocks at the 11:46 mark of the second quarter courtesy of a 43-yard touchdown run by quarterback Timarious Mitchell. APSU went into the locker room trailing 14-7, but three consecutive scores by Jacksonville State to begin the third quarter was enough to pull ahead.

Austin Peay recorded 235 total yards in the game, the most against JSU since 2013 (245 yards).

Turning Point

After the Gamecocks pinned APSU deep at its own one yard line on the first drive of the second half, the Govs fumbled the snap which JSU recovered. The Gamecocks capitalized to punch it in for a touchdown, extending the lead to 21-7 which began a string of three-straight scores.

10/15/2016 Football at No. 3 JSU Football at No. 3 JSU
Inside the Box Score

APSU held Jacksonville, who entered the game as the NCAA 7th best offense, to its third lowest total offensive mark over the last two season after the Gamecocks accounted for only 328 yards Saturday. The last two times APSU failed to reach 300 total yards of offense came in the 2015 National Championship against North Dakota State on January 9, 2016, 204 yards, and at Michigan State on August 29, 2014, 244 yards.

The Govs secondary limited preseason OVC Player of the Year and two-time All-American Eli Jenkins to just 9-of-20 through air. It was the first time since November 23, 2016 that JSU had not completed more than 10 passes in a regular season game.

Led by Mitchell’s 54 yards on 16 carries and Kendall Morris’ 43 yards on 17 carries, the Govs became the first FCS team in 2016 to rush for 100 yards against the Gamecocks. JSU entered play allowing just 88 yards per game on the ground.

With his three receptions on Saturday, senior receiver Rashaan Coleman moved into a tie for 10th place all-time in career catches.

In addition, junior receiver Jared Beard improved his all-time yardage ranking to ninth, 1,263, with 51 yards against the Gamecocks.

Beard continues his streak of totaling 50 or more receiving yards in a game, eclipsing the mark in every contest this season.

Fellow wide out Rashaan Coleman moved into a tie for 10th place on the all-time career reception list with 91 receptions after hauling in three catches Saturday.

Mitchell’s 43-yard rushing touchdown is Austin Peay longest run of the season, passing Morris’ 33-yard yard scamper at UT Martin last weekend. It was also the second longest run given up by JSU in 2016.

Sophomore safety James Bond nearly matched his career-high in tackles, two off his 12 against Murray State with 10 on Saturday.

Redshirt sophomore linebacker Gunnar Scholato recorded nine stops, giving him 73 tackles in 2016 and with at least eight per game.

Freshman defensive lineman Nick Putman recorded a career-high seven tackles, including one tackle for loss.