CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University came up short Saturday in its bid to prevent Eastern Kentucky for clinching at least a tie for the Ohio Valley Conference title.
The Colonels took advantage of four APSU pass interceptions and a balanced offense to wear down the Governors, 28-14, at Governors Stadium. The loss ruined the Governors “Senior Day” and it dropped APSU to 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the OVC.
Eastern Kentucky, meanwhile, improved to 8-2 overall and 7-0 in the OVC.
The Colonels finished the day with 403 yards in total offense, 227 on the ground and 176 passing. Running back Bobby Washington had 116 yards rushing while quarterback Allan Holland passed for 176 yards. The Colonels balanced helped wear down APSU as the visitor dominated the ball for 10:54 in the final quarter, preventing a Govs comeback.
The Govs again relied on senior running back Chris Fletcher, who was playing in his final game in Governors Stadium. He finished with 130 yards on 24 carries, including a 33-yard TD.
In the first quarter, Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a quick lead, taking the opening kickoff and driving 76 yards for the score, with quarterback Holland connecting with Quinton Williams, who caught the ball in the flat and danced away from several Govs defenders into the end zone for a 28-yard TD.
The Govs used a blocked punt in the first quarter to help tie the score, also in the first quarter. Kelvin Young blocked Brenton Kuszmaul with Jay Courtney recovering at the APSU 48.
The Govs then drove deep into EKU territory, thanks to a couple of hook ups between sophomore Gary Orr and freshman Darryl Miller. With third and one from the EKU 12, Orr attempted to sneak the ball for the first down. However, during the play, the ball popped into the air and Govs tight Jon Sanders caught it at the 10. With tackle Cage Major serving as a convoy, he rumbled into the end zone, making it a 7-7 game.
But EKU took advantage of a long return on the ensuing kickoff to come right back, with Mark Dunn running 29 yards to put EKU up 14-7. That is the way the score remained until the half's waning seconds.
In the interim, both teams squanders opportunities, the Govs having a pass intercepted in the EKU end zone plus missing a field goal. EKU, meanwhile, fumbled at the APSU two yard line.
However, right before half EKU took advantage of a 17-yard Govs punt and turned it into a 21-7 halftime advantage as Holland hooked up with C.J. Walker down the middle for a 22-yard scoring play with 21 seconds left.
The Govs opened the second half by driving the length of the field, using a EKU personal foul penalty to keep the drive alive. It was culminated when Fletcher raced 33 yards, putting the score at 21-14. That run put Fletcher at the 100-yard mark for the 28th time in his career.
But EKU again responded, using another long kickoff return and subsequent penalty to drive 39 yards, with Holland diving over for a 28-14 advantage.
Orr, who was under constant pressure much of the game, finished the contest 12 of 28 for 169 yards with the four interceptions. Freshmen receivers Miller and Adrian Mines combined for seven catches for 135 yards.
Defensively, APSU sophomore linebackers Kit Hartsfield (12) and Chris Haynes (11) ended with double-digit tackles.
For EKU, linebacker George Anderson finished with 12 tackles, including a pair of quarterback sacks. Safety Brandon Gathof had two of the Colonels four interceptions.
-AP-
