APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – To truly understand the amazing story that was Austin Peay State University (APSU) football last season, just look around the rest of our year-end countdown.
We kicked off the countdown talking about the upset of nationally-ranked UT Martin. Tuesday, it was all about the Ohio Valley Conference honors bestowed upon Jeremiah Oatsvall and Will Healy, and a day later we did the deep dive into Healy’s Eddie Robinson Award-winning turn as FCS Coach of the Year.
And we’ve STILL barely scratched the surface of the incredible journey the Govs took everyone on last season, which is why they’re our No. 1 story of 2017-18.
It’s simply too much to consider, some of the narrative details that led to Austin Peay’s best season in 40 years. There’s the tale of Jaison Williams—from the dissolution of his biological family at 11 to adoption three years later to All-American status as a sophomore last season, the Austin Peay Male Athlete of the Year with a brighter future than seemed possible just a few short years ago.
Take Malik Boynton. Just before he started high school, his mother passed away, kicking off a tumultuous few years that found him at times homeless, moving in with whatever family could take him in. He came to Austin Peay and suffered through one win in three years and a terrifying neck injury that cut short his junior season. His career ended as the Austin Peay Legends Award recipient, given to the most outstanding senior male athlete and a minicamp invitation from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kyran Moore, from high school quarterback to college defensive back to college wide receiver to the Canadian Football League.
A school-record 10 rushing touchdowns against Morehead State.
Not only picking up a win in the Sgt. York Trophy series for the first time since 2012 but winning the whole thing for the first time in the trophy’s 11-year history.
A week in Orlando, taking on and battling FBS unbeaten UCF after hitting the beach and Disney.
An end-of-year national ranking. Two National Player of the Week honors. A long snapper-turned-viral sensation. The comeback at Eastern Kentucky. A serious place in the conversation for the FCS playoffs. A consensus national ranking heading into the next season.
The only question now is: what will they do for an encore?
