SACRAMENTO, Cali. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Behind quarterback JaVaughn Craig’s 164-yard rushing performance, Austin Peay State University’s football team scored early and often then salted the game away late to stun fourth-seeded Sacramento State, 42-28, Saturday night in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Division I Football Championship at Hornet Field.

Austin Peay (11-3) won a program-record tying seventh consecutive game and advanced to the NCAA Playoffs quarterfinal round where they will face No. 3 seed Montana State at a time and date to be announced later.

The day was Craig’s as he used his arm and legs to befuddle the Sacramento State defense. He ran for a career-high 164 yards on 12 carries, including his two longest runs of 2019. Craig’s arm was good for another 204 yards and two touchdowns on while connecting on 18-of-28 passes.

Austin Peay used the big play to great effect in the opening quarter. Craig used his legs for the first Govs’ big play, a then-season best 36-yard run that set the Govs up deep in Sacramento State territory where a 15-yard pass to DeAngelo Wilson provided the game’s first points.

After the Govs defense held the Hornets without a first down on the ensuing drive, Austin Peay again got a big completion – this one a 40-yard connection from Craig to Wilson to get into the Hornet’s red zone. Six plays later, Craig added Baniko Harley to the scoring ledger with a three-yard touchdown pass and Austin Peay was up 14-0.

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But the Govs weren’t done causing havoc, surprising many with an on-side kick that Harley recovered to put the offense back on the field. Four plays later, Harley took a direct snap on fourth-and-1 and burst through the line for a 40-yard touchdown run to put the Govs were up 21-0 before the first quarter expired.

Meanwhile, Austin Peay’s defense did its part to keep the Sacramento State offense silenced and pitched a first-half shutout. The defensive unit faced its sternest test of the opening frame after Sacramento State intercepted a pass in the second quarter and set up shop at the Austin Peay 35-yard line. But after a 19-yard pass completion to open the ensuing drive, the Govs offense surrendered just three more yards before ending the drive courtesy a fourth-down stop at the 13-yard line.

The third quarter saw the teams trade touchdown drives. The Govs extended their lead to 28-0 as Craig led a 6-play, 80-yard drive capped by Kentel Williams’ one-yard touchdown run. After Sacramento State scored midway through the third quarter to end the shutout bid, Craig responded by rushing for 76 yards in a 4-play, 80-yard drive to push the lead back to 28 points.

Sacramento State (9-4) would keep applying pressure late, following the Govs scoring drive with another of their own to close the third quarter’s scoring. But Craig and Austin Peay again had an answer for the Hornets push, recovering an on-side kick and then driving 51 yards in 10 plays while consuming over six minutes of clock en route to its sixth touchdown.

The Hornets would strike for two fourth-quarter touchdowns after the Govs scored, but Austin Peay recovered a third on-side kick with 3:59 left and then drained the remaining clock. Appropriately, Craig took the final snap and kneeled out the final seconds and the Govs playoff run extends another week into December.

Wilson caught eight Craig passes for 132 yards – his seventh 100-yard outing this season – and a touchdown. Harley ran for two touchdowns and caught another and amassed 90 all-purpose yards.

Quarterback Kevin Thomson led Sacramento State with 306 passing yards and 87 rushing yards, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another pair to account for all of the Hornets scoring. Eight different Sacramento State receivers caught a pass in the contest.

The Governors will return to Fortera Stadium Sunday, December 8 at 8am.