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HomeSportsAustin Peay State University Football team to hold first scrimmage this Saturday

Austin Peay State University Football team to hold first scrimmage this Saturday

APSU Sports Information

Austin Peay State University Governors - APSUClarksville, TN – After seven practices, Austin Peay State University’s football team will scrimmage for the first time, 9:30am, Saturday, in Governors Stadium.

The scrimmage is open to the public. Entrance is expected to be on the east side or in the north end zone.

Austin Peay Governors Football. (Brittney Sparn/APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Governors Football. (Brittney Sparn/APSU Sports Information)

In his second APSU spring campaign, head coach Kirby Cannon has been pleased with what he has observed in the first two practice weeks.

“We are in much better condition than last year—we are much stronger,” Cannon said. “We have a good focus on what it takes to improve at practice. We are addressing less transition hustle issues and spending more time at practice on football skills.”

Stormy Tuesday weather forced the Govs to shift their practice to early Wednesday morning.  They also have adjusted to fences surrounding the 80-yard practice area along with a sloping, non-turfed sideline. But the Governors have persevered, knowing a new stadium with a new playing surface with greet them next fall.

“It’s a challenge,” Cannon said. “Our main concern is the safety of the kids. As a result, you have to be more organized. The coaches and players have done a good job of being aware of those certain areas and have been able to practice around them. There have been a few more limitations of what we do and how we have to do it.

“We have had a little more administration but again we know what that payoff is going to be as the stadium is completed.”

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfgAc6gUeGk[/youtube]

Cannon, who is coordinating the defense this season, has been pleased with the defensive line’s progress under graduate assistant Brandon Jordan, who took over the job duties after Pat Donohoe resigned after the 2013 season.

“The defensive line is off to a good start from a fundamental standpoint,” said Cannon, who watched injury and personnel issues decimate that area last fall. “The footwork, the hand position was lacking last year but I think coach Jordan has done a good job of instilling fundamental techniques in that group and demonstrating them in 11-on-11 drills.

“I also am very happy with our two seniors corners, Buddy Mitchell and Montez Carlton. They are solid football players and I think both are going to have outstanding senior years.”

Offensively, the Governors are attempting to rebuild an offensive line that will replace a pair of senior starting tackles. They have four quarterbacks competing for the starting position, led by returnees Andrew Spivey and Timarious Mitchell as well as redshirt Trey Taylor.

That group has been bolstered by the addition of newcomer receivers Jermer Braswell and Wesley Thomas to go with such returnees as senior Darryl Clack, who is in the best condition of his football career, and local product Jamaar Embry.

“We are not going to make any judgments on the quarterback position until they are in a position to know what they are doing and from a scrimmage standpoint,” Cannon said. “Those are the reps that are going to determine the starting position coming out of spring ball.”

APSU suffered a blow this week when sophomore placekicker Chase Dunlap saw his career ended by a chronic hip injury. It leaves Evan Toby as the Govs’ only spring kicker.  Lenoir City native Dakota Vincil will provide a challenge come fall.

Saturday will be one of just two Govs spring scrimmages, the second, the Red-White game, being Saturday, April 26th at Fort Campbell.

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