CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Missed opportunities and Gardner-Webb's efficient offense led to Austin Peay State University's undoing as the Governors dropped a 31-15 home-opening decision at Governors Stadium, Saturday night.
The Governors dropped to 0-3 on the season while Gardner-Webb improves to 2-1.
APSU fell behind 10-0 early and could never recover, despite gaining favorable field position as a result of Terrence Holt's sizable kickoff returns.
APSU, in fact, used Holt's 27-yard game-opening kickoff to drive to Gardner-Webb's 34, lnly to have the drive stall on downs.
The visitors then turned around and drove to the APSU 28 before settling for Ryan Gates 46-yard field goal.
On the ensuing kickoff, Holt returned it 42 yards to the Gardner-Webb 49 , but again the Governors could not sustain anything offensively, forcing a punt.
The visitors then gashed APSU with five straight runs the netted 38 yards, taking the ball all the way down to APSU's 42. A holding penalty pushed GWU backed to the Gardner-Webb 47. However, quarterback Stan Doolittle hit Dobson Collins on a wide receiver screen and the speedster took it 53 yards for the game's first touchdown.
As the opening quarter ended Holt again gave APSU workable field position with a 38-yard return out to the APSU 47 yard line. A personal foul penalty put it at Gardner-Webb 38. But the drive ended when Gary Orr's pass was intercepted at the five-yard line.
The Governors defense then got the ball back and APSU drove to the Gardner-Webb 17 before settling for a field goal attempt. However, John Bell's 34-yard attempt barely went wide.
The Govs got the ball back on a Tremayne Townsend interception, but again the Governors could not convert for a TD. However, this time Bell nailed his first college field goal, this one from 42 yards out to make it a 10-3 game with 4:43 left..
But the Runnin' Bulldogs would not let the Governors seize the momentum. They drove 43 yards in nine plays to take a 17-3 halftime advantage.
But APSU responded with a drive of its own just before half. APSU drove down to the GWU 34 before Bell soared a 51-yard field goal through the uprights. APSU entered halftime trailing 17-6.
The Govs scored first early in the second half on another Bell field goal, this one from 45 yards.
Again the Govs' defense slowed the Runnin' Bulldogs, forcing a punt. However, APSU could not take advantage, failing to get a first down before punting. This time GWU clicked offensively as Doolittle went five-for-five passing on the drive that ended with him connecting with Tre Perry for an 18-yarde scorer.
The Govs would come back to make it a 24-15 game on a Orr-to-Adrian Mines' 29-yard TD pass but the point-after was missed after a penalty.
But the Govs would get no closer as a pair of late interceptions ended any hopes.
The Govs finished with 289 yards total offense compated to 343 for Gardner-Webb. GWU had 191 rushing yards, led by Phillip Peoples 85 on 18 attempts.
APSU could manage only 98 yards rushing while Orr was forced to pass 42 times. He completed 22 for 191 but had four intercepted.
Defensively, strong safety Jason Vanatta had 11 tackles while Ricky Thomas and Daniel Becker each had 10.
APSU will look for its season's first win, 6 p.m., next Saturday when it plays host to UT Martin in the Ohio Valley Conference opener in Governors Stadium.
-AP-
