Austin Peay State University snapped a 22-game losing streak to Eastern Kentucky, Saturday night, as it rallied in the second half to defeat the No. 20 Colonels, 24-20, at Governors Stadium, in Ohio Valley Conference action.
The victory ended the nation’s third longest losing streak to a single opponent. APSU last defeated the Colonels, Oct. 1, 1977 when Randy Christophel, the brother of current APSU coach Rick Christophel, was the quarterback. It included back-to-back losses to the Colonels after the Govs returned to the OVC in 2007. It also snapped a 17-game Govs losing streak to the Colonels in Governors Stadium.
The Governors got 176 rushing yards from Terrence Holt, including an 80 yarder and a go-ahead 12-yard third quarter score to snare the victory. APSU defense, which had forced just seven turnovers all season long, recovered three fumbles and grabbed one interception in the game—that interception by Zac Burkhart came with 1:19 left in the game at the APSU 41 yard line.
From there Austin Peay ran out the clock as the Govs won their second straight to improve to 3-4 overall, 2-2 in the OVC while the No. 20 Colonels slip to 4-3 overall, 4-2 in the OVC.
But as much as the game will be should be known for the Govs ending the long losing streak to the Colonels, it almost was known for the game Eastern Kentucky was awarded an extra down late in the first half that eventually resulted in the Colonels scoring a touchdown. With the Colonels facing fourth-and-four from the APSU nine, the officials called it third and four. EKU was able to gain the first down and eventually scored the go-ahead TD with 44 seconds left in the half.
APSU got off to a an early 14-0 lead as freshman quarterback Jake Ryan, with a EKU defender in his face, hooked up with Adrian Mines for his first college TD pass, a 45-yard with 6:54 left in the half.
After Eastern Kentucky missed a 37 yard field goal, APSU took over the ball at its own 20 yard line. It took just one play for the Govs to score again as Holt burst through the line and ran away from the Colonels defense for his career’s longest run.
But EKU came roaring back. Led by quarterback T.J. Pryor, who completed a 43-yard scrambling pass to Shannon Davis on third-and-14 to gain a first down, the Colonels scored 1:11 into the second quarter. Pryor concluded the drive with a 15-yard TD run to cut APSU’s lead to 14-7.
After Stephen Stansell saw his 45-yard field goal attempt blocked by Eastern Kentucky, the Colonels drove 68 yards in seven plays with Bruce Frieson rushing from one yard out to tie the game at 14 all.
Then a failed fourth-down conversion by the Govs late in the quarter helped set up EKU’s go-ahead drive that included the controversial extra down.
APSU’s defense forced two three-and-outs early in the third quarter before Holt set up his own go-ahead score with a 41-yard punt return. APSU started from the EKU 22 and got a break when Ryan had a pass intercepted by Jeremy Caldwell. However, EKU was hit with a personal foul penalty that put the ball at the Colonels 12. Holt took it from there and with Stansell’s extra point it gave APSU a 21-20 lead. Holt finished the game 251 all-purpose yards.
Eastern Kentucky then came back early in the fourth quarter with a chance to regain the lead, driving 73 yards. However, Frieson fumbled the ball at the APSU one after a 12-yard gain and Antwaun Majors recovered the ball in the end zone.
APSU then drove deep into EKU territory, thanks to Holt’s 51-yard run. But Stansell missed a 39-yard field goal.
But Stansell was money on his next opportunity. With less than 3:15 left in the game, APSU defensive tackle Antonio Faulkner sacked Pryor, forcing a fumble and recovered by end Rick Woods. The Govs took over at the EKU and turned it into a 27-yard Stansell field goal.
A pass interference penalty gave EKU a first down on the drive but Faulkner again pressured Pryor, forcing his off-balance throw to be intercepted by the diving Burkhart.
