APSU Sports Information
Lexington, KY – The Austin Peay State University football team concludes the 2016 slate by stepping out of Ohio Valley Conference and Football Championship Subdivision play with a road trip to Southeastern Conference member Kentucky, Saturday, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30pm, central time on the SEC Network.
Kentucky comes into the game at 5-5 overall and 4-4 in the SEC. The Wildcats ran for 443 yards in a 49-36 loss to Tennessee in their last game.
Freshman running back Kentel Williams totaled 399 all-purpose yards highlighted by a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against EKU. Williams’ 399 all-purpose yards set a new APSU record and OVC record.
Williams went on to claim three OVC weekly awards (Co-Offensive, Co-Specialist & and Co-Newcomer) becoming the first player in OVC history to accomplish the feat. He also claimed the STATS FCS Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Govs to win any national weekly award.
APSU racked up 500 yards of total offense (186 rushing, 314 passing) against Mercer, and followed up with a school record 644 (322 rushing, 322 passing) yards of offense against Tennessee State.
Freshman quarterback JaVaughn Craig was named the OVC Co-Offensive and Newcomer Player of the Week after accounting for 446 yards of total offense (322 passing, 144 rushing) against TSU. He also tied a school record and set a freshman record with five touchdown passes. Craig was the second Gov to earn OVC weekly honors after Kyran Moore was named specialist of the week after the EIU game.
After pulling the redshirt off of Craig three weeks ago, the Govs have averaged an OVC leading 471.8 yards per game and average 31.2 points per game – the second best mark in the league. During the same frame, Craig has led the league in rushing (102 yards per game).
After making the switch from wide out to running back four weeks ago, freshman Kentel Williams averages 101 yards per game. He also has six total touchdowns under his belt.
Wide receiver Jared Beard leads the OVC in the receptions per game, 6.9, yards per game, 92.0, and total receiving yards at 920. Beard is seeking to become just the third Gov to reach 1,000 yards in a season.
Beard hauled in 11 catches for 181 yards against Mercer before tallying eight catches for 146 yards and three TDs two games later against TSU. He’s had over 100 receiving yards in four games. It was his second three touchdown game in his Gov career.
Fans can also follow all the action from the 2016-17 season on www.LetsGoPeay.com, on Twitter @LetsGoPeay & @AustinPeayFB and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LetsGoPeay
