Box Score CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Ryan White rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns while Tee Howell returned a third-quarter punt 65 yards for a score as Austin Peay State University defeated Central State, 40-0, Saturday in non-conference football action at Governors Stadium.
The victory snapped a Governors four-game losing streak and improved them to 3-6 on the season. Central State, an independent Division II team from Wilberforce, Ohio, fell to 1-9 on the season.
The shutout was the first for Austin Peay since Nov. 1, 2003 when it defeated St. Joseph's, 17-0. It also is the first shutout by the Govs under fifth-year head coach Rick Christophel.
The Governors got off to a sluggish start before finally breaking loose late in the first quarter when White scored his first TD, a 26-yard scamper.
Still, undermanned Central State kept it close in the first half, limiting APSU to just two Stephen Stansell field goals as APSU went into intermission leading only 13-0.
But in the second half, the Govs broke it open. At the 11:55 mark of the third quarter, Howell snagged a Gracewell Mahbena punt, cut left and raced down the left sideline for the Govs' first special teams' TD this season and their first punt return for a score since Terrence Holt returned a punt against Tennessee State for a score, Nov. 14, 2009.
White then made it a 27-0 game with his second TD when he darted his way through the Marauder defense for eight yards with 6:01 left in the third period. That was his final carry of the afternoon. White, who carried the ball 20 times Saturday, tallied his season's fourth 100-yard rushing performance-and 14th of his career.
The Govs played senior wide receiver Scott Thomas at quarterback much of the fourth period. The former star prep quarterback ran one-yard for a score and APSU's final TD came on redshirt freshman Ean Pemberton's 17-yard scamper.
The Governors finished with 407 rushing yards and 472 yards in total offense, while limiting Central State to just 162 yards total offense.
Defensively, Antwaun Majors and Steven Ragin each grabbed interceptions while sophomore Iosua Siliva was credited with two sacks.
Reserve safety Steve Rich led the Govs with seven tackles while back-up linebacker Jared Sexton had six.
-AP-
