Junior Terrence Holt scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 71-yard punt return, leading Austin Peay State University to a 24-21 come-from-behind win over Tennessee State, Saturday, at Governors Stadium. It marked the Govs first win over the Tigers since 1995.
The punt return was Holt’s second touchdown – the first coming on a 22-yard run earlier in the third quarter. Holt, the Football Championship Subdivision leader in all-purpose yards, finished with 222 all-purpose yards – 77 rushing, 37 receiving, 25 on kick returns and 83 on punt returns. It also was Holt’s seventh two-touchdown game this season.
Sophomore Ryan White led the Govs offense with 27 carries for 115 yards, becoming only the sixth player in APSU history to run for 1,000 yards–he now has 1,024 yards on the season.
The Govs running back tandem was buoyed by a strong second-half Govs defense. APSU’s defense bounced back after allowing two first-quarter Tigers touchdowns.
Tennessee State came out in a hurry, scoring its first touchdown on the initial drive. Quarterback Calvin McNairl opened the drive with a 29-yard pass to Travis James. The Tigers smartly worked their way down the field and McNairl hooked up with James again for a nine-yard touchdown pass only 3:01 into the game.
Austin Peay’s defense spent a lot of time on the field in the opening frame, working a nine-play, five-minute TSU drive into a punt. The Govs offense sputtered as well, going three and out on its first drive and picking up a first down on 14-yard White scamper before punting on its second possession.
McNairl completed a 22-yard pass to Marquez Williams for the Tigers second touchdown, to take a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. In all, the Govs defense spent more than 10 minutes on the field during the frame.
Holt and White shared the load in carrying the Govs down the field in the second quarter. The pair converted on a pair of third downs, leading to junior Jontamion Forrest’s three-yard TD plunge with 8:03 till the break.
The Tigers led 14-7 going into halftime.
The second-half start resulted in trouble for the Govs when a muffed kick return and a fumble gave TSU the ball inside the Austin Peay 30-yard line. A long run by McNairl set up his third touchdown pass, a seven-yard strike to Ronald Bright, giving Tennessee State a 21-7 lead.
Austin Peay found its groove on the ensuing drive. Freshman quarterback Jake Ryan converted a second-and-long with junior tight end Chris Litteral to get things going. White and Holt took turns slicing up the middle before Holt broke free for a 22-yard touchdown run – capping a six-play, 52-yard drive – that left the Govs trailing 21-14.
Freshman Antwaun Majors recovered a TSU fumble on the subsequent kickoff, giving the Austin Peay offense a start at the TSU 25-yard line. Freshman kicker Stephen Stansell made a 43-yard field goal, narrowing the margin to 21-17 with 9:49 left in the third.
McNairl opened TSU’s next drive with a 10-yard completion, but the Govs held strong over the next set of downs. They stuffed TSU’s Donte Thomas and senior Chris Newell sacked McNairl on second down. The stonewall Govs defense set that stage for Holt’s game-winning punt return, which saw the junior go right and then cut back to his left, picking up a wall of blockers along the way.
The two teams combined for 54 yards of offense in the fourth quarter. Senior LaDarius Davis intercepted McNairl and the Govs withstood a TSU try on fourth-and-five with 2:04 to seal the win.
McNairl finished with 189 yards passing, completing 17 of 23, and also led the Tigers with 51 yards rushing. Joseph Hills was his favorite target, making six catches for 54 yards.
Govs’ sophomore safety Amius Smith had a game-high 12 tackles, including seven solo stops. Newell finished with seven tackles – 2.5 for loss and one sack. Senior Kit Hartsfield also had two tackles for loss.
Ryan completed 8 of 22 passes for 101 yards, connected with six different receivers along the way. The Govs outgained the Tigers 302-293 in total offense.
Austin Peay closes its season with 1 p.m., Saturday, contest at Tennessee Martin.
Photo Gallery
Photos from the first Half of the APSU vs TSU Game.
