MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State returned two first-half fumbles for touchdowns in building a 26-0 lead as the Racers defeated Austin Peay State University, 56-24, Saturday afternoon at Roy Stewart Stadium in Ohio Valley Conference football action.

Austin Peay fell to 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the OVC. Murray State improved 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the OVC.

With Murray State taking advantage of a 25 mile-per-hour wind at its back to open the game, Austin Peay couldn't have the contest begin any more ominously. Quarterback Landon Curtis, faking a handoff, slipped on the artificial surface for an eight-yard loss.

On the very next play, Wesley Kitts gained two yards on a run right, but fumbled the into the ever-waiting hands of the Racers' Qua Huzzie, who scooped up the ball and raced 24 yards for the score, giving the Racers a 7-0 lead just 56 seconds into the game.

Murray State continued to take advantage of the wind, stacking the line against the run and forcing four straight three-and-outs before the quarter was over.  They turned it into four field goals and a 19-0 advantage.

But then the backbreaker occurred for the Govs early in the second quarter. With Jake Ryan taking over at quarterback he hit Scott Thomas across the middle and has he turned up field the ball popped out of Thomas' grasp and into Julian Whitehead's hands. He raced 42 yards for the score to give the Racers a 26-0 lead with 11:51 left in the second quarter.

Thomas bounced back by hauling in a 10-yard scoring pass from Ryan less than four minutes later as the Govs took advantage of the wind. But Racers' running back Mike Harris rushed for two more scores before half's end with APSU only able to respond with a field goal. APSU trailed 39-10 heading into intermission.

Harris finished with 134 yards rushing while Walter Payton Award candidate, quarterback Casey Brockman, passed for 277 yards, completing 25 of 39 passes.

Austin Peay finished with 295 yards in total offense, compared to 525 for the Racers.

Curtis finished 11 of 16 passing for 68 yards while Ryan completed 10 of 18 for 101 yards. Devin Stark, who has been mostly silent in recent weeks, finished with seven catches for 81 yards and two TDs, one from Ryan (37 yards) and the other from Curtis (10 yards).

-AP-