MURRAY, Ky. ? Terrence Holt returned a kickoff 85 yards with 1:52 left to break a 17-17 tie as Austin Peay State University defeated Murray State, 23-17, Saturday afternoon, in Ohio Valley Conference action at Roy Stewart Stadium.
The kick return stunned the Racers, who had just tied the game on an eight-play, 80-yard drive, taking advantage of a Governors turnover. It was the third TD return for Holt this season. Earlier this season, he returned a kickoff 75 yards against Bethel and a punt 67 yards against Tennessee State.
The victory ended the Govs season at 7-4, 5-3 in the OVC, while Murray State finished 2-9 overall, 1-7 in the OVC. The Govs ended in a third-place tie in the OVC race after being picked to finish last in their first year back in the league since 1996.
It is the most wins by an Governors team since the 2002 team went 7-5 and the most wins by a scholarship team since the 1984 team went 7-4. It also is the first time since 1980 that the Govs won five OVC games.
And the Governors were able to do it after overcoming a frustrating first half that saw both team shaking their heads over a 0-0 score. The Govs were unable to take advantage of five first-half Racer turnovers.
And the Governors were able to do it without star running back Chris Fletcher, who suffered a dislocated elbow just prior to half. Fletcher literally had carried the team in recent weeks.
As a result, APSU took a page out of last year's playbook?throwing to Lanis Frederick. The junior, who set APSU records for receptions (77) and yards (1101) in 2006, enjoyed his season's first 100-yard day, catching six passes for 136 yards. However, he caught five of those for 116 yards in the second half, setting up both APSU TDs.
Sophomore quarterback Gary Orr also played a key role, completing 10 of 12 second-half passes for 160 yards.
But it was the Govs defense that stood tallest in the win. They forced eight turnovers, including five interceptions?the most interceptions by a Govs team since 2003 when the non-scholarship Governors had five against Butler. Strong safety Jason Vanatta had two of the picks while defensive tackle Phillip Sparn had both an interception and a fumble recovery.
Up front, sophomore Rocky Dee Peeler had 11 stops, including a pair of quarterback sacks. Defensive end Chris Newell also had a pair of sacks.
The first quarter saw both teams moving the football but unable to score. But right before the quarter ended Murray State executed a fake punt and it put the ball at the Govs 19 yard line heading into the second quarter. But Sparn, who intercepted a pass in the first quarter, fell on a fumble at the APSU 12, thwarting Murray State again.
Murray then had its drive halted on a reverse pass that was intercepted by Jason Vanatta, who returned it near midfield. But the Govs lost the ball on downs inside the Racers 30.
However, the Govs intercepted another pass, this one by Kelvin Young. That set up another Govs drive that stalled inside the Racers 15. However, Isaac Ziolkowski missed a 29-yard field goal.
The Govs got the ball right back just half before on their third interception, this one by Kevis Buckley, deep in APSU territory.
If the Govs struggles weren't bad enough, Fletcher suffered his elbow injury right before halftime.
Murray State finally used a long play, a short pass that turned into a long play, to set up a seven-yard TD pass
from backup quarterback Chris Franklin to Josh Jones for the game's first score.
The Govs came right back, highlighted by a 36-yard pass from Gary Orr to Frederick that put ball at the Murray six-yard line. Otis Spivey punched it in from there to tie the game at 7-7.
The Governors then took advantage of another Murray State turnover to take the lead. Another long pass play to Frederick, this one also of 36 yards, set up a Spencer Gulmire four-yard run to make it a 14-7 contest.
The Govs then forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and turned it into a 34-yard Ziolkowski field goal to make it a 17-7 game early in the fourth quarter.
The Govs got their eighth turnover early in the fourth quarter but gave it right back and Murray State turned it into 48-yard field goal.
APSU then drove it deep into Racer territory before fumbling it back to Murray. The Racers then drove it eight plays and 80 yards to the Governors 11 where Franklin hit Rod Harper for the game-tying TD.
But then it was time for the Holt bolt to give APSU the lead once again. But Ziolkowski the extra point, making it a 23-17 game.
That left it up to the defense to thwart Murray on its final drive. The Racers drove it to the APSU 41 before the Govs refused to budge. On the final play, defensive tackle P.R. Morris got his hands on Franklin forcing the quarterback to pull the ball down, allowing Newell to sack him and ending the Murray comeback.
-AP-
