Austin Peay State University’s signature 24-20 Ohio Valley Conference win against Eastern Kentucky, Saturday night, has earned two football Governors league player of the week honors.
Terrence Holt, APSU’s junior tailback and kick returner, was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week for his 176-yard, two-touchdown effort against the Colonels. Meanwhile, junior defensive tackle Antonio Faulkner, whose late-game pass-rushing heroics forced a fumble on one drive and caused an interception on the next, was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week.
Holt, the Nashville native (Maplewood HS) broke off an 80-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that put the Governors up 7-0. In the third quarter it was his 12-yard touchdown run that proved to be the game-winning score; that score was set up by Holt’s 41-yard punt return. Holt now has scored two touchdowns, respectively, in four straight games.
He finished the game with 251 all-purpose yards and is averaging 213.57 all-purpose yards/game, which is first nationally in Football Championship Subdivision statistics. The win marked the first victory against Eastern Kentucky for Austin Peay since the 1977 season, snapping a 22-game losing streak.
Faulkner, meanwhile, was credited with four tackles, including two for loss (one sack), forced a fumble and had a quarterback hurry in Austin Peay’s upset victory over No. 20 EKU. In the fourth quarter the Paducah, Ky., native sacked EKU quarterback T.J. Pryor with 3:15 to play, causing a fumble which led to Stephen Stansell’s 27-yard field goal, giving Austin Peay a 24-20 advantage. On the next drive, it was Faulkner’s quarterback hurry that led to Zac Burkhart’s interception with 1:20 left in the game and sealing the win. .
It was the second time in as many games the Governors have players earn league honors. Ryan White, APSU’s other co-No. 1 running back, was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts at Southeast Missouri while freshman safety Jeremy Ross was named OVC Newcomer of the Week for his defensive performance in the same contest.
