GOVS-BEARS POSTGAME NOTES

FROM THE TOP

• Kordell Jackson became the first Governors defender with two interception returns for touchdown in a single game and tied the program's single-season record.
• Keenan Barnes (105 yards) and DeAngelo Wilson (107 yards) became the first pair of Governors receivers with 100-yard receiving yards in the same game since the 2006 season (Lanis Frederick and Kevin Carter at Dayton).
• The 48 points scored by the Governors were its most in a road contest since defeating Morehead State in Week 3 of the 2018 season.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

• Kentel Williams, Elijah Shepard, Logan Birchfield and Shaun Whittinghill were the captains at Mercer.
• Austin Peay won the toss and deferred.
• Mercer elected to receive the opening kickoff.

SERIES UPDATE                                            

• This was the fourth meeting between Austin Peay and Mercer.
• Austin Peay won for the first time in the series.

ROAD READS

• The victory snapped the Govs four-game losing streak in road contests.
• It was their first road win since the 2018 win at Morehead State in Week 3.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

• Austin Peay scored on its first drive of the contest for the first time this season.
• Keenan Barnes finished with is first 100-ard receiving outing as a Governor, catching nine passes for 105 yards.
• DeAngelo Wilson notched his second 100-yard receiving outing of 2019 – and third career – with five catches for 107 yards.
• Kentel Williams finished with two touchdown runs; it was his fourth career multi-rushing touchdown outing. He is now fifth in career touchdowns (17) at Austin Peay.
• Austin Peay had six passing plays go for 15-plus yards and six rushing plays of 10-plus yards.

DEFENSIVE STANDS                                         

• Austin Peay held Mercer to 43 yards on 31 carries; the Bears entered the game ranked 30th among FCS teams while averaging 196.0 rushing yards per game.
• Facing a short field after the Mercer returned opening kickoff to the Austin Peay 15-yard line, the defense forced a three-and-out to limit Mercer to a field goal.
• Kordell Jackson's third-quarter pick-six went 29 yards and was the first pick-six by a Governors defender this season. He followed that with a 69-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter.

THIRD DOWN TAKEDOWNS

• Mercer was held to 6-of-15 on third-down conversions, APSU has allowed a 36.5 percent conversion rate (13-of-37) on third down in the season's first two games. The Govs were ranked 33rd nationally in third-down defense entering the game.
• The Bears faced 3rd-and-long (more than six yards) on 11 third-down chances, the Govs allowing seven conversions. The Govs have forced 3rd-and-long 35 times this season and have allowed only eight conversions (22.9 percent).

SPECIAL TEAMS SPRINTS

• Prince Momodu blocked a punt and tackled the Bears player who picked up the punt in the third quarter to set up the Govs on the 24-yard line late in the third quarter. The Govs scored a touchdown five plays later.
• Logan Birchfield hit a pair of 20-yard field goals and made all six of his PATs, finishing with 12 points.
• With six PATs, Birchfield also took over the all-time lead in PATs by a Governor with 104.