GOVS-EAGLES POSTGAME NOTES

Notes following Austin Peay's home-opener against Morehead State, Saturday, at Fortera Stadium.

FROM THE TOP

• Austin Peay's 579 offensive yards are the seventh-most in program history and its 376 passing yards were fourth-most in program history – and most since 2001.
• The Governors won their second-straight home opener under head coach Scotty Walden after opening his inaugural season with a February victory against Tennessee State.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

• Kordell Jackson, Baniko Harley, Koby Perry, CJ Evans Jr., Bucky Williams and Jack McDonald took the coin toss for Austin Peay.
• Morehead State won the toss and elected to receive the kickoff. Austin Peay elected to kick off from the south end zone. The Govs are 2-1 when losing the toss this season.
• Weather in Clarksville at kickoff: 74, Overcast, Calm.

SERIES UPDATE                                           

• Austin Peay won its fourth-straight game against Morehead State, scoring 59-plus points in each of the last three games.
• The Governors improved to 12-9 against Morehead State in Clarksville.
• Austin Peay is now 20-29 against Morehead State all time.

THOSE ARE THE BREAKS

• Austin Peay led at halftime, improving to 4-1 when leading at the big break under Walden.
• The Govs also led after three quarters and are now 4-2 when leading going into the fourth frame under Walden.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

• Draylen Ellis passed for a career-high 345 yards on 21-of-36 passing. It is the second time this season he has set his career high in passing yards (325 at Chattanooga).
• Eugene Minter caught two touchdown passes for the second time in his career. He previously caught two TDs against UT Martin in spring 2021.
• Ahmaad Tanner scored his first rushing touchdown of the season on a 26-yard rush up the middle of the Eagles defense in the second quarter.
• Tanner added his second rushing touchdown to open the fourth quarter for his third career two-touchdown day, matching outings against Eastern Illinois (2017) and Southeast Missouri (2019). All three have occurred at Fortera Stadium.
• Drae McCray's 52-yard reception in the second quarter was his third 50-yard pass reception this season.
• Baniko Harley's third-quarter touchdown reception gave him a touchdown reception for the third-consecutive game.
• Neyland Jean threw a touchdown to Trey Goodman with 5:40 left in the game, the first career touchdown for both freshmen.

DEFENSIVE STANDS                                        

• Jack McDonald recorded his first career pick-six with a 30-yard interception return in the second quarter. It was the first pick-six by a Governor since Kordell Jackson at Mercer in 2019.
• Johnathon Edwards notched his third pick of the season, nabbing a pass in the Governors end zone to end a potential MSU scoring drive late in the second quarter.
• Austin Peay finished with 13 quarterback hurries but did not record a sack.
• The Governors did record five tackles for loss. Koby Perry led the way with a team-leading two TFLs as part of his team-leading nine tackles.
• Troy Henderson Jr. also had a team-leading nine tackles.
• Kory Chapman led the Govs with two pass breakups, with Austin Peay posting five pass break ups in the contest.

SPECIAL TEAMS SPRINTS

• Maddux Trujillo's career-long 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was the longest by a Govs kicker since Logan Birchfield's 49-yard conversion in the 2019 season opener.
• Kam Thomas finished the day with four punt returns for 63 yards, including a 41-yard punt return.

GOVS-EAGLES POSTGAME QUOTES

Austin Peay head coach Scotty Walden

Opening Statement: "I am really pleased with the win and excited that we defended our home turf today. There are some things we have to clean up, but I was really pleased with our guy's effort. I thought we played all three phases really hard. I thought offense, we-fense [special teas] and defense played hard. Defensively, there were a little too many explosives in the air. Offensively, we left some things out there too, but that is being critical. We are going to clean that up tomorrow. We are going to enjoy this win. I want our guys to have fun and enjoy winning the game because when you win a Division 1 college football game, that is not easy. It is not easy to win a college football game, I don't care who you play or where you play; it is not easy to win a college football game and we are certainly not going to take that for granted."

On the Govs offense: "It was an attack-style plan. With their defensive structure, we thought we had some shots that we could take  and  I thought Draylen and the unsung heroes of the team –the offensive linemen, the running back and tight end— that protected him and allowed for him to sit in the pocket and deliver those strikes . Our depth at receiver showed today. We have seven or eight guys that can start at any time. We have a really loaded receiver room, it is really competitive as ever, and I was really pleased with that. I thought we ran the ball vertically, it was a tempo game as always. We are going to play fast. For the most part, we just wanted to make the routine plays great. There are some things to clean up, but that is the most yardage we have had since I have been here and I feel like we still left a lot out there and we will continue to get better."

On the Govs defense: "Defensively, I thought there were some things that we really did well. I felt like it was different than the Ole Miss game. In the Ole Miss game, we had a lot of communication breakdowns  in coverage. I felt that their tempo got to us today, and give Morehead State some credit, they are a really good passing team. They threw it 21 times in the first quarter against James Madison. They have a good passing attack and made some really tough catches. I don't feel like those third downs and fourth downs that they converted were just uncontested that we have to do better on tracking. But I will say this, when their quarterback scrambled, and threw across his body, we were there but we just have to sack the quarterback and make plays when the ball is in the air. I think off the naked eye, assignment-wise we were better but we have to finish. We have to break those passes up and not allow them to extend drives but I loved the effort."

Austin Peay defensive back Koby Perry

On playing with aggression: "It is something I have done ever since I was a kid. I came up pretty rough, so I have always just been a big hitter and am willing to sacrifice my body playing the game."

On the Govs second-half defense: "I wouldn't say we took a step back. Morehead State is a great football team. Defensively we rotated some and we just have to focus have the same demeanor as the one's had. That was just a big part of it. We took a step forward today and got the win."

Austin Peay quarterback Draylen Ellis

On his growth: "In the spring, Coach Scotty had just gotten here so we didn't really have enough time to get to know each other. We had a rushed season. But this year, we had a fall camp and got to hang out after practices and just have a lot of team bonding With that, the offense just got better and better."