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HomeSportsAPSU Football loses at UT Martin, 37-7

APSU Football loses at UT Martin, 37-7

APSU Sports Information

APSU FootballMartin, TN – For the second time in three weeks, Austin Peay State University’s (APSU) football team faced an opponent on a soggy gridiron, as rain steadily fell to the earth, and at times, it came down in sheets.

The Governors took the lead into halftime, but could not hold off a second-half rally from UT Martin in a 37-7 defeat, Saturday, September 22nd at Graham Stadium.

Austin Peay Football drops OVC Opener at UT Martin Satuday night. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Football drops OVC Opener at UT Martin Satuday night. (APSU Sports Information)

In their first Ohio Valley Conference game of the season, the Governors engaged the UT Martin Skyhawks in another defensive battle in the first half, as the teams went into the locker room with the Govs leading, 7-6.

UT Martin looked to strike on their first drive of the game, getting all the way to the APSU 13-yard line before cornerback Erskine Francis stepped in front of a Dresser Winn pass for his first career interception as a Gov.

It marked the third straight game in which the Governors have intercepted a pass.

The Govs drove down the field after the play, but suffered a turnover of their own in the red zone. The Skyhawks traversed the field on the ensuing possession in six plays, capped off by a 20-yard touchdown throw from Winn to Jaylon Moore.

The Govs responded on the following drive with a 37-yard touchdown run from quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall, his third consecutive game with a rushing touchdown.

Neither team could get much going in the second quarter. Cornerback Trent Taylor helped preserve the lead with his first interception of 2018 as the Skyhawks had driven the ball into the Govs’ end of the field. With that interception, the Governors recorded their first multi-interception game since facing Eastern Illinois in 2017.

The Skyhawks received the second half kickoff and took it back for a touchdown to seize the game’s momentum. They would tack on another touchdown and a field goal in the third quarter to build a 23-7 lead.

In addition to the two interceptions, the Governors defense limited Winn to 199 yards passing — 75 yards below his season average. Malik Davis and Gunnar Scholato each posted 11 total tackles to lead the defensive effort. It was the 11th career double-digit tackle game in Scholato’s career and the fifth of Davis’ career.

Scholato and Jaison Williams each notched 2.0 tackles for loss, leading the way for a Govs defense that recorded nine.

Offensively, Kentel Williams led the way for the second consecutive week with 91 yards on 11 carries, an average of 8.3 yards per carry. Oatsvall and JaVaughn Craig combined to throw for 110 yards, and DeAngelo Wilson caught two passes for 52 yards. He now has 10 receptions for 188 yards and two touchdowns this season.

The Governors wrap up their three-game road trip with a 3:00pm, Saturday, September 29th trip to reigning OVC champion Jacksonville State.

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