JACKSONVILLE, Ala. ? Jacksonville State scored the first three times it touched the football, a deficit Austin Peay State University could not overcome, as the Governors dropped a 35-22 Ohio Valley Conference decision, Saturday afternoon, at Paul Snow Memorial Stadium.

The win improved Jacksonville State to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the OVC. The Governors fell to 1-8 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.

APSU could not overcome a quick start by the host team, which was coming off a disappointing one-point loss to UT Martin. With quarterback Ryan Perrilloux completing six of his seven passes to for 113 first-quarter yards to go up 14-0. After APSU turned a 77-yard Terrence Holt kickoff return into three points, the Gamecocks then scored just seconds into the second period to make it a 21-3 advantage, a four-yard strike from Perrilloux to Eric Johns. It was his second TD pass of the half. He also ran 14 yards for the game's first score.

But the Governors came scrapping back against the OVC's preseason favorite. After being able to only turn Terrence Holt's 77-yard kickoff return into three points, the Govs righted themselves late in the first half. Holt again gave them a spark by rushing 61 yards for a TD, cutting the deficit to 21-10.

The Govs then turned a Perrilloux fumble into a score right before half. The Governors drove 59 yards in 10 plays to make it a 21-16 game. It came after APSU used a Jacksonville State timeout to rethink a 22-yard field goal attempt. The Govs elected to go for on a fourth-and-two from the five and Ryan White was able to gain a first down at the two. APSU quarterback Trent Caffee then hooked up with Jeff Lyle for a two-yard score, making it a five-point halftime game.

But Jacksonville State stormed out of intermission, driving 56 yards, capped by a 23-yard run by Daniel Jackson to make it a 28-16 contest.

After trading fumbles, the Govs took over at their own 20-yard line and drove 80 yards, culminated by a second Caffee-to-Lyle two-yard scoring toss. The duo also hooked up on a 31-yard pass amidst the drive.

The Govs then forced only JSU's second punt late in the quarter only to watch Caffee's long pass intercepted at the JSU 15. However, it appeared the Govs were going to stop JSU again. After Rocky Dee Peeler sacked Perrilloux, the Govs then sacked him again at the JSU one-yard line. However, a holding penalty in the APSU secondary gave JSU the first down.

But the Govs defense held and finally forced a punt. The Govs then moved the ball past midfield into JSU territory before two big stops by nose guard Brandt Thomas halted APSU's momentum. On fourth down and 10, the Govs lined up to punt but attempted a fake, with Lyle being stopped short of the first down.

That was all the momentum the Gamecocks needed. They drove 65 yards with Ronald Murray diving over from two yards out to make it a 35-22 contest with 6:27 left.

Austin Peay attempted to come back but again had a fourth-down running play stopped short with 3:21 left. JSU then was able to run out the clock.

White finished the game with 116 rushing yards on 25 carries while Holt had 87 on 10 carries. Holt also had 159 kickoff return yards, tying his own OVC record for kickoff return yards (1104).

Caffee, meanwhile, ended 14 of 28 passing for 148 yards.

Defensively, reserve safety Kelvin Young collected a pair of fumbles and picked off a pass.

Perrilloux finished 17 of 29 for 271 yards passing and had another 50 yards rushing. Daniel Jackson had 111 yards rushing on 11 attempts.  

-AP-