GOVS-REBELS POSTGAME NOTES

Notes following Austin Peay's game at Ole MIss, Saturday, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

FROM THE TOP

• Austin Peay's offense finished with 374 yards total offense against No. 20 Ole Miss.
• It is the seventh time in the last nine games against FBS opposition the Govs have scored 10 or more points.
• It is the fourth time in those nine games they have scored 17 or more points against an FBS opponent.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

• Johnathon Edwards and Sam Howard joined full-season captains Bucky Williams, Jack McDonald and Kordell Jackson for the coin toss.
• Ole Miss won the toss and deferred. Austin Peay elected to receive the kickoff. Govs are 1-1 when losing the toss this season.
• Weather in Oxford at kickoff: 77, Fair, Wind SE 6.

SERIES UPDATE                                           

• Austin Peay lost in its first-ever visit to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
• The Govs fell to 1-3 in games played in the state of Mississippi.
• It is the sixth time the Govs have faced an opponent ranked in the Top 25 of the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll.
• Austin Peay is 1-1 in night games under Walden.

THOSE ARE THE BREAKS

• Austin Peay trailed at halftime for only the second time during the Walden era.
• The Govs also trailed after the third quarter for only the second time during the Walden era.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

• Baniko Harley scored for the second consecutive game, hauling in a 30-yard pass around an Ole Miss defender late in the second quarter.
• It is Harley's first back-to-back games with a touchdown reception since Weeks 7 & 8 of the 2019 season against Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech, respectively, ending a 15-game streak.
• It is Harley's first back-to-back games with a touchdown of any type since the first two rounds of the 2019 NCAA Playoffs when he rushed for a touchdown against Furman and two scores at Sacramento State.
• Drae McCray caught a 51-yard pass in the third quarter, it was his second 50-yard reception this season and he's the only Governor with a 50-yard play this season.
• McCray ended the night with 87 receiving yards for the second consecutive game, making a career-best six receptions against Ole Miss.
• Ahmaad Tanner finished with 70 yards rushing on 18 carries. His 184 rushing yards over two games is his best back-to-back total of his career.
• CJ Evans broke out for a 40-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter and he finished the night with a team-best 74 rushing yards. He added 31 receiving yards to finish the night with 105 all-purpose yards.

DEFENSIVE STANDS                                        

• Shamari Simmons made the most of his second game as a Governor, leading the team with 10 tackles, forcing and recovering a fumble on the same play in the third quarter and breaking up a pass to prevent a possible touchdown.
• Koby Perry set a career high with 11 tackles (seven solo).
• Kordell Jackson was credited with two sacks in the game, his first career multi-sack game, and had the Govs only tackles behind the line of scrimmage in the game.

SPECIAL TEAMS SPRINTS

• Maddux Trujillo converted a 30-yard field goal early in the third quarter, making him 2-for-2 to begin his career.
• Jay Parker returned six kickoffs for a total of 97 yards, finishing second in all-purpose yardage.
• Matt Rigney boomed four punts for an average of 41.7 yards, including a 55-yard long punt.

GOVS-REBELS POSTGAME QUOTES

Austin Peay head coach Scotty Walden

Opening Statement: "I just got done telling the guys that we are not ever going to celebrate a loss, I don't care who it's against, but there are a lot of things to be encouraged by. I think we have a really good football team. We've got a team that played hard throughout the duration of this game. I'm really proud of CJ Evans Jr. for finishing off that big run there at the end. That's the way we needed to finish the game. I didn't feel like there was any quit in our heart. We coached to win. We expected to win. I didn't see any fear on guy's faces. We just didn't execute against a really good football team. Ole Miss has a team that can compete for an SEC title and they are a top-20 team in the FBS for a reason. I am proud of our guy's fight."

On facing Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin: "He is one of the best in the game for a reason. He is a phenomenal offensive-minded coach. He and I talked after the game about similar offensive philosophies. He is a guy that is going to be good for a long time; he's smart, innovative and I loved watching their offense operate. I love what they are doing on defense too. When you go against one of the best play callers in the game, that is an awesome experience. I definitely can learn a lot from him and I just have a lot of respect for Coach Kiffin."

On the Govs: "These guys are fearless. That is what I love about going to war with Draylen Ellis, CJ Evans Jr., Drae, Baniko, Ahmaad Tanner and Bucky Williams. Those guys don't fear anybody. They looked at this game expecting to win. So did guys like Kordell Jackson, Jack McDonald and Koby Perry on the defensive side. I think Drae McCray is one of the best freshmen wide receivers in the country. He is stone cold. He does not back down. CJ Evans Jr. doesn't say two words, he just comes to work every day and plays multiple positions for us. Guys like them and Draylen Ellis, those three guys win you football games."

On the Govs' receivers: "Before the season, everyone was talking about how we didn't have any receivers. We all just kept our mouths shut because we were in the building everyday watching them. We know we have an elite wide receiver group. It's tough keeping everybody happy because they all want to play. I feel totally confident that we can start and play with seven to eight different guys at receiver. We are that deep. We plan on rotating those guys and playing the hot hand. There are a lot of guys that are really good players and I feel that we are really deep, but in our offense that is what we have to have. We have to have explosive playmakers from a depth standpoint. I am excited for the future; it is really bright for us."

On Koby Perry and Shamari Simmons: "Koby and Shamari are guys that show up every game. Shamari is a young man we recruited from Hutchinson Community College who won a national championship at the JUCO level in the spring, so he is a winner. He is physical, physical player. He is a guy that always goes. As he continues to develop and continues to get aggressive in our defense, he is only going to get better. Koby Perry is a warrior. If I was in the trenches, Koby Perry would be one guy I want behind my back, because that guy won't let me down. He played his tail off until the last drive. I am really proud of those young men and I am proud of our defense for their effort."

Austin Peay wide receiver Drae McCray

On playing Ole Miss: "I see this game as just another game. It was a good challenge to see where we are as a team and where I am at as a player, but it is just another week that I will use to get better and see where I am."