GOVS-EAGLES POSTGAME NOTES

FROM THE TOP

• Austin Peay won in head coach Mark Hudspeth's debut. He becomes the first Governors head coach since Rick Christophel (vs. Bethel [Tenn.], 2007) to win their debut.
• Austin Peay amassed 563 offensive yards, the sixth highest single-game total in program history and second most in an opener since 1994 (Kentucky Wesleyan).
• Govs first season-opening win on a Thursday since defeating Cumberland (Tenn.) in 2010.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

• Captains: Jeremiah Oatsvall, Kyle Anderton, Pat Walker, Jauntarius Bryant.
• Austin Peay lost the toss and North Carolina Central deferred to the second half.

SERIES UPDATE                                            

• Austin Peay and North Carolina Central met for the first time.
• It also is the first time the Govs faced an opponent from the Mid-Eastern Athletics Conference.

DEFENDING THE FORT

• Austin Peay won its second straight home game.
• The Governors have scored 40 or more points in four of their last five home games.
• Austin Peay is 9-2 at Fortera Stadium since the start of the 2017 season.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

• Kentel Williams finished the night with 139 yards on 12 carries, it was his eight career 100-yard rushing performance and second straight (118 yards in 2018 season finale against Murray State).
• Williams finished with 208 all-purpose yards, adding 26 receiving yards and 43 yards on kickoff returns.
• Deangelo Wilson caught a career-high three touchdown passes (all in the first half), one shy of tying the program record. He also posted his second career 100-yard receiving performance, catching six passes for 106 yards.
• Austin Peay converted a reverse pass midway through the second quarter as Baniko Harley finding DeAngelo Wilson for a 40-yard touchdown.

DEFENSIVE STANDS                                         

• Austin Peay's defense recorded 10 tackles for loss. 11 different Govs received at least partial credit for a TFL.
• The Governors only allowed North Carolina Central into the red zone twice during the game (one conversion).
• Linebacker Pat Walker led the Govs with career-best seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
• In his return to linebacker, Jack McDonald finished with six tackles and a tackle for loss.
• Mason Harwell and Matthew Gayle were each credited with a sack.
• NCCU was held to 6-of-20 on third down conversions, the Eagles failed to convert their first 10 third down opportunities and faced 3-and-long (more than six yards) on 14 third-down chances

SPECIAL TEAMS SPRINTS

• Logan Birchfield converted field goals from 49 and 27 yards. His 49-yarder was a career long, topping his 45-yard boot against Eastern Kentucky last season.