NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – No. 19 Austin Peay football will take to the road this week and open up this year’s Sgt. York series, as the Governors head to Nissan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19 for an OVC contest at 4:30 p.m. against Tennessee State for its homecoming.
The Govs snapped a five-game losing streak to TSU in 2017 and now have secured back-to-back victories in the series with a 49-34 thumping of the Tigers last season.
After taking down nationally-ranked opponents in consecutive weeks for the first time in school history, Austin Peay has found its groove on the gridiron. The Gov’s first Top 25 win came against No. 11 JSU before the Governors took down then No. 20 Southeast Missouri 28-24 at Fortera Stadium.
APSU got the job done without its leading-rusher on the year Kentel Williams, but Ahmaad Tanner stepped up and had a big day offensively in his absence. Tanner ran for 72 yards and three touchdowns, including a 2-yard score that sprung the Govs to victory.
Senior quarterback JaVaughn Craig continued to shine with Jeremiah Oatsvall on the shelf, throwing for 243 yards and two touchdowns.
Baniko Harley eclipsed 100 yards receiving for the first time in his career on just five catches against SEMO.
With numerous weapons on offense, the Gov defense has been overshadowed a bit this year. Austin Peay comes into Saturday’s contest with the No. 1-ranked defense in the OVC and 11th nationally after holding the Redhawks to 2-of-11 on third downs. Jack McDonald racked up a team-high 10 tackles while Shaun Whittinghill had seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble for the Governors.
Austin Peay is currently No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll, marking its highest-ever ranking in that particular poll. In the STATS poll, the Governors came in at No. 20 this week, their highest ranking in a media poll since being No. 8 in the AP poll in 1979.
The Tigers have been far from world-beaters this season, dropping their sixth-straight game and falling to 0-3 in OVC play with a 31-17 home loss to Murray State this past Saturday. If the Govs take care of business this weekend, TSU would suffer its longest losing streak in school history.
TSU recorded nearly 100 more total yards to the Racers, but committed five costly turnovers that led to 17 points for the MSU offense.
Te’kendrick Roberson rushed for two scores while Cameron Rosendahl threw for 312 yards against the Racers.
Tiger senior Chris Rowland snatched a school-record 14 passes for 146 yards, rushed for five yards, racked up 63 more in return yardage to end the game with 214 all-purpose yards. It was the fifth time this season that Rowland has gone over 200 all-purpose yards in a single contest, as he leads the conference in that category.
Tennesee State has a gem on special teams in kicker Antonio Zita who ranks second nationally in field goals per game and ninth in field goal percentage.
Austin Peay (4-2, 2-0) will travel to take on Tennessee State (1-6, 0-3) Saturday, Oct. 18, as Austin Peay searches for its third win in a row.