GOVS-HORNETS POSTGAME NOTES

Postgame notes following Austin Peay's 42-28 victory at Sacramento State in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Division I Football Championship.

FROM THE TOP

• Austin Peay became the 10th Ohio Valley Conference team to win twice in the NCAA Playoffs and the first to do so since 2015 (Jacksonville State).
• Austin Peay's 42 points scored (for a second consecutive week, no less) were the most scored against Sacramento State this season.

SERIES UPDATE                                            

• Austin Peay won its first-ever meeting against Sacramento State.
• It was the Govs first-ever contest against a member of the Big Sky Conference.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

• Craig broke Austin Peay's single-season touchdown completion record when he found DeAngelo Wilson for the game's first score. It was Craig's 26th touchdown pass this season and broke the record held by Brian Baker (1999).
• Craig set his career high with 164 rushing yards against Sacramento State including runs of 36 and 58 yards. It was the second-best rushing performance in total yardage by a Govs runner this season.
• Harley's 45-yard touchdown dash in the first quarter was his longest run of 2019; he had rushed for 70 net yards this season prior to the run.
• DeAngelo Wilson posted his seventh 100-yard receiving outing of 2019, with eight catches for 164 yards – the most by a Govs receiver this season, topping his 161-yard day at Tennessee Tech. Austin Peay is now 6-1 when he posts 100 receiving yards in a game.
• Austin Peay's 295 offensive yards in the first half were its most since posting 436 yards in the opening half of its romp at Tennessee Tech, Oct. 26.
• The Govs 295 rushing yards against Sacramento State was its second-best rushing total this season, 23 shy of its season-high 318 yards set at Tennessee Tech.
• Austin Peay rushed for four touchdowns, the fifth consecutive game with multiple rushing touchdowns (17 rush TDs in those five games).
• The Govs also passed for two scores, its fourth consecutive game with multiple passing touchdowns (10 passing TDs in four games).

DEFENSIVE STANDS                                         

• Austin Peay forced a three-and-out (or less) on an opponent's opening drive for the eighth time this season and for the fourth consecutive game. It is the 11th time in 2019 the Govs have held a foe scoreless on their opening drive.
• Sacramento State attempted a fourth-down conversion in the second quarter – attempting to take advantage of an interception – but the Govs denied the 4th-and-9 opportunity. It was the 19th time this season Austin Peay has denied a fourth-down conversion.
• The Govs held the Hornets scoreless in the first half. It was only the second time this season Sacramento State was held scoreless in an opening half (Arizona State).
• In his second game back in action, Matthew Gayle recorded a sack. It was his first sack of any kind since the Govs faced Southeast Missouri, Oct. 12.
• The Governors defense saw its streak between touchdowns allowed ended midway through the third quarter. Prior to Sacramento State's first touchdown, the Govs had not allowed a touchdown since 14:52 left in the second quarter of the regular-season finale against Eastern Illinois. It was a streak of 142:36 between touchdowns.
• Austin Peay recorded seven pass breakups in the victory. It was the fifth time this season the Govs disrupted four or more passes in a game and they improved to 5-0 in those games.

SPECIAL TEAMS SPRINTS

• Austin Peay attempted its first on-side kick of 2019 after its second scoring drive and succeeded in recovering it as Baniko Harley landed on the ball thanks to a soft spot in the Hornets' kick coverage unit.
• Sacramento State attempted three on-side kicks and the Govs recovered all three. The Govs have not allowed an opponent to recover an on-side kick in eight tries this season.