Austin Peay Governors vs. Ohio Bobcats
September 21st, 2013 | 1:00pm CDT
Athens, Ohio | Peden Stadium (24,000)
Athens, OH – For the first time this season Austin Peay State University’s football team ventures outside the state of Tennessee when it travels north to face Ohio, 1:00pm, Saturday, in Peden Stadium.
This not only will be the Governors’ first out-of-state contest but it as well will be their last non-Ohio Valley Conference game this season.
The Governors enter the contest 0-3 while Ohio is seeking its third straight victory. After being pummeled 49-7 in the season against Louisville, the Bobcats have won two straight, including a 34-31 victory against rival Marshall last Saturday.
This is Ohio’s third straight home contests—the Bobcats are 21-5 at home dating back to the 2009 season start. The Bobcats enter week four after defeating Marshall 34-31 in their annual Battle for the Bell matchup.
Ohio is coached by Frank Solich, who took over the dormant program nine years ago and has steadily built into a consistent Mid-American Conference power. The Bobcats are favored to win the MAC East Division in 2013 and are seeking their third consecutive bowl appearance.
Solich was the 2006 MAC Coach of the Year and also was twice Big 12 Coach of the Year when he was at Nebraska, where the Cornhuskers appeared in six consecutive bowl games, including the 2001 National Title game.
On the field, the Bobcats are led by senior quarterback Tyler Tettleton, the son of former major league catcher/designated hitter Mickey Tettleton. The Bobcat signal caller is on the both Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year and the Davey O’Brien Watch Lists. He has thrown 48 career TD passes.
Joining him in the backfield is All-MAC running back Beau Blankenship, who ran for 1,600 yards as a junior.
On the flip side, defensive back Travis Carrie has been a mainstay at cornerback while doubling as a dangerous kick returner.
Senior running back Tim Phillips leads the way with 183 yards, including 78 yards against Chattanooga.
Junior wide receiver Darryl Clack is the Govs only receiver averaging more than 10 yards per catch (15.9 ypc/9 receptions).
Worth Noting
- This will be APSU’s first game out of the state of Tennessee after playing Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Chattanooga in the first three weeks.
- This will be APSU’s first game in Ohio since opening the 2011 season at Cincinnati.
- Ohio represents APSU’s first game against a Mid-American Conference opponent since playing Toledo in the 1988 season.
- The Governors open the season playing four straight non-conference road games–Tennessee (August 31st), Vanderbilt (September 7th), Chattanooga (September 14th) and Ohio (September 21st). After a week off, the Govs then will open Ohio Valley Conference play on the road at Eastern Kentucky, October 5th. The Govs’ first home game will be October 12th against Eastern Illinois.
- This is Austin Peay’s 77th season of college football, including nine non-scholarship seasons (1997-2005).
- The Governors enter the contest with 19 straight road losses. Their last road victory came against Tennessee State, a 26-23 verdict, September 18th, 2010.
- Austin Peay has enjoyed only 18 winning seasons in 76 years of football and two winning seasons since the turn of the century–a 7-5 mark in 2002 as a non-scholarship program and a 7-4 record in 2007 in Rick Christophel’s first season.
- Defensive tackle Malcolm Goines, who was declared ineligible prior to the UTC game, again will not play this week at Ohio. APSU is seeking reinstatement through the NCAA.
Offensive Notes
APSU saw its scoring streak end at 84 games in the 45-0 loss to Tennessee. It was the first time the Govs have been shutout since returning to scholarship football in 2006. The previous time APSU was shutout came at Drake, 54-0, September 24th, 2005.
Austin Peay led the OVC in fewest sacks allowed with just 10 in 11 games in 2012. In fact, that number was two better than Jacksonville State and UT Martin. However, in the season opener against Tennessee, the Governors permitted a pair of sacks and allowed four more to Vanderbilt. APSU quarterbacks were sacked just once by UTC.
Senior Tim Phillips accounted for all Governors running back carries (14) in the first half against Chattanooga, totaling 65 yards. He finished with 78 yards on 18 carries before departing in the third period.
With Phillips providing 78 of the rushing yards, the Govs finished with 116 yards on the ground against Chattanooga, the first time this season APSU broke the 100-yard rushing barrier this season.
Austin Peay quarterbacks still are seeking an individual 100-yard passing effort in the 2013 season. Starter Andrew Spivey completed 7-of-17 against UTC for 61 yards.
The most combined yards by the Governors so far this season has been 132 yards at Tennessee. As a result, the Governors are 111th out of 114 teams in FCS passing statistics, averaging just 93.3 yards per game.
When Tim Phillips scored on a five-yard first period TD run against Chattanooga it was the Governors first touchdown of 2013. It also was APSU’s first TD in 156 minutes and 13 seconds, dating back to the Governors third-period score against Tennessee Tech in the 2012 season finale.
Freshman wideout Rashaan Coleman led the Govs with four receptions (25 yards) while junior Darryl Clack led in yardage (48 yards on three catches).
Defensive Notes
Five of the Govs’ six leading tacklers against Chattanooga came from the secondary, with corner Montez Carlton leading the way with eight stops.
Senior defensive back Leron Eaddy, in his first season with the Govs, was credited with his first interception in the closing minute of the first half against Chattanooga. He also had six stops in the half, finishing with seven overall.
Freshman linebacker A.J. Gray, gaining his most extensive action of the young season, tied for second on the team in tackles with seven against Chattanooga.
Sophomore linebacker Montrieze Lillard was credited with three unassisted tackles against Chattanooga, two for losses.
Safeties Tyreon Clark, Johnathan Shuler and Leron Eaddy lead the Governors in tackles. Clark and Shuler each has 21 stops while Eaddy has 19. Clark leads the Governors in solo stops with 16 while Shuler owns the most assists with 12.
Special Teams Notes
In the first three games junior punter Ben Campbell has booted the ball 23 times. At his current pace he would end with 92 punts. APSU’s record for most single-season punts is held by Grad Wright, who punted 82 times during the 1990 season.
After failing to connect on his field-goal attempt at Tennessee, junior Walter Spears’ now has made two straight. He connected on a 20-yarder against Vanderbilt, ending a 123:18 of consecutive clock time without an APSU point. He
then connected on a 26-yarder against Chattanooga, Saturday.
Governors Radio Network
WVRY 105.1 FM serves as the Governors Sports Network in 2013-14. David Loos, who also handles play-by-play for Lady Govs basketball and color for the Govs, is in his 12th season as football play-by-play voice while Van Stokes, a veteran broadcaster with a diverse background adds the color. Govs Game Day will begin one hour before game time followed by the pre-game show 30 minutes prior to kickoff each week.
OVC Digital Network
All OVC football games plus home non-conference contests will be televised in HD by the new OVC Digital Network. The OVC is excited to offer LIVE and on-demand streaming video and audio straight to your computer, tablet or smart phone.
Govs Social Media
All things related to Austin Peay Athletics can be found on Twitter @LetsGoPeay and through Facebook at www.facebook.com/apsugovs. For all your APSU athletics needs, be sure to visit www.LetsGoPeay.com
