CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.-There is a reason why Ryan White and Terrence Holt are listed as co-No. 1 tailbacks.

The duo combined for 362 rushing yards to lead Austin Peay State University to a 34-23 victory, Saturday night, in the Govs season opener played at Governors Stadium. It was only APSU's fourth season-opening win in the last 15 seasons.

White, a sophomore, rushed 23 times for 210 yards while Holt, a junior, carried the ball 15 times for 152 yards and two TDs, including a fourth-quarter 75-yard run. It was the first time two Austin Peay rushers reached 100 or more rushing yards in the same since Chris Fletcher (153) and Quea Williams (114) did it against Cumberland, Sept. 10, 2005. White's 200-yard effort was the first by an APSU back since Jay Bailey had 201 yards against Davidson, Nov. 9, 2002.  

In the first half, the Governors took advantage of an early Newberry turnover to jump out to a quick lead. On Newberry's first play from scrimmage, Govs senior Nick Clark forced a fumble that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by senior Kit Hartsfield. It took only 16 seconds for the Govs get on the board.

Freshman kicker Stephen Stansell made the first of two field goals, a 20 yarder, with 1:33 left in the first to give the Govs a 10-3 lead after the frame. Austin Peay would go on to score in every quarter.

Holt's 16-yard TD run capped a nine-play, 86-yard, drive midway through the second period to put Austin Peay on top, 17-3 at the break.

Austin Peay coughed it up inside its own 10-yard line, midway through the third quarter, setting up a 10-yard TD run by Gerald Legree which cut the Govs lead to 17-10. The Govs then drove 62 yards, but had to settle for a 29-yard Stansell field goal.

The two teams would trade scores throughout the game's remainder, including  Holt's 75-yard TD sprint 14 seconds into the fourth quarter. APSU quarterback Trent Caffee threw his only touchdown pass, a 25-yard lob to Darryl Miller as the game's clinching and final score with 4:48 left.

Caffee finished 6-for-12 passing for 84 yards, while Jake Ryan was 1-for-2 for seven yards. The duo completed passes to six different receivers along the way.

Holt finished 288 all-purpose yards, including 120 yards on five kickoff returns.

Newberry quarterback Brandon Gantt completed 35 of 47 passes for 335 yards and one TD pass. The 35 pass completions was a Newberry record. Wide receivers David Pressley (149 yards) and David Brown (80) each had 10 catches. Newberry fell to 1-1 on the season.  

-AP-