CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – After playing its final non-conference game last weekend against Mercer, Austin Peay now will settle back into Ohio Valley Conference play for the final six weeks. Up first will be rival Murray State, 6 p.m., Saturday, in Governors Stadium.
The Governors come in still seeking that elusive first victory. The Governors, who are amidst an 18-game losing streak, are coming off their season's best offensive performance, scoring 21 points and rolling up 362 yards total offense. But the Govs could not overcome a nightmarish first quarter that saw Mercer tally 28 points. Â The Governors also could not overcome a season-high 116 yards in penalties.
Freshman running back Otis Gerron continued to emerge against the Bears, He ran for 196 yards and a TD—an 89-yard run. The rushing yards were the most by a Govs since Ryan White ran for 228 in the 2009 season.
Defensively, the Govs were unable to create a turnover for the fourth straight contest. Linebackers Antonio Turner, Adam Noble and Louis Benedict led the Govs in tackles while defensive linemen Malcolm Goines and Tyler Schneider each had sacks.
Murray State may have salvaged its season last week, snapping a four-game losing streak while defeating No. 23 Southeast Missouri, 44-41, in double overtime win. Racers' quarterback KD Humphries threw for  six touchdown passes against SEMO,  throwing for 297 yards. For his efforts he was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week and The Sports Network's National Offensive Player of the Week.
The Racers, now 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the OVC, still are seeking their first road triumph. However, two of those road defeats were to FBS opponents Louisville and Western Michigan.
Humphries owns a talented receiving corps. Jeremy Harness leads the way with 42 catches for 371 yards and five TDs. Janawski had 30 receptions for 426 yards and seven TDs while Nevar Griffin had 29 catches for 393 yards and a trio of scores.
Junior transfer St. Pierre Anilus made the most of last-minute start against Southeast Missouri by leading the team with 18 tackles. He also came up with a 13-yard sack in the first overtime in a key defensive play.
The contest will be available online via ESPN3. Kevin Ingram and Bob Belvin will have the call.
-AP-
