CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Chris Fletcher rushed for 131 yards and the special teams produced two first-quarter touchdowns as Austin Peay State University defeated Bethel, 43-19, to open the 2007 football season at Governors Stadium.
It also provided Rick Christophel a victory in his first game as head coach at his alma mater. He was APSU's first head coach to win his initial game since Roy Gregory won his opener to kickoff the 1991 season. It also was the Governors first season-opening win since the 2002 team defeated Cumberland, 17-16.
“It's been a long week,” said Christophel. “I was excited to walk out with this team in front of all our friends, family and fans. Our guys have looked forward to this game battling tough two-days and preseason practice and I told them before this game that, after battling each other for over a month we were going to win this game.”
The Governors accomplished the win against the No. 6-ranked team in NAIA by scoring 20 first-quarter points with the help of outstanding special teams play.
After holding Bethel on downs on its first possession, the Governors partially blocked a punt, giving the Govs good field position at its own 38. It took the Govs just five plays to score their first TD, with senior quarterback Mark Cunningham hooking up with record-setting receiver Lanis Frederick for 20 yards on the Govs' first offensive play. Two plays later Chjris Fletcher broke loose for 14 yards to the Bethel 21 and Cunningham went right back to Frederick for a 21-yard TD pass. Freshman kicker Isaac Ziolkowski missed on the point-after attempt.
On Bethel's next possession, the Govs again forced a Bethel punt. This time freshman linebacker Ricky Thomas blocked the punt and freshman running back Roscoe Carter picked it up and ran six-yards for a touchdown, giving the Govs a 13-0 lead.
Bethel responded with a score, driving 76 yards in 10 plays, but that score was quickly answered when freshman receiver Terrence Holt returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a score. Holt, in fact, returned a second first-half kickoff 50 yards.
The Governors sandwiched two more scores around a Bethel second-period score, with Cunningham again connecting with Frederick for a second 20-yard reception while finding Fletcher on a screen pass for a 39 yard TD as the Governors took a 33-13 halftime advantage. At halftime, Fletcher had 84 yards on eight carries while Cunningham was 7-of-9 passing for 121 yards and three TDs..
The Govs left little doubt in the third quarter, tacking on 10 more points for a 40-13 advantage. Fletcher scored his second touchdown of the night, a one-yard run that he set up with a 34-yard run that pushed him over the 100-yard mark for a seventh straight game. The two touchdowns give him 32 in his career, tying him with Jay Bailey for most TDs and career points (192).
“We learned some good things and bad things tonight...we have to work on our penalties,” Christophel said. “I thought our kickers did a good job overall and I was excited to see Isaac (Ziolkowski) respond after missing the first extra point.
“The biggest thing I was excited to see was how well our return game was... Terrence (Holt) did a great job finding his blocks and then using his speed to get to the outside. Then finishing special teams off with two blocked punts is something I was pleased to see.”
- AP -
