CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – It's a rivalry renewed when the No. 24 Austin Peay State University football team hosts Murray State for a 3 p.m., Saturday showdown at Fortera Stadium.

Saturday's game against the Racers also will serve as Austin Peay's annual Military Appreciation Day. Military members and their families can receive a free ticket to the game by calling the Austin Peay Ticket Office at 931-221-PEAY (7329). Reserved tickets along with any leftover tickets that have not been reserved can be picked up at the Fortera Stadium box office Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or Saturday between 11 a.m. and kickoff.

Saturday's Military Appreciation Day game is sponsored by ECHO Power and there will be military appreciation-themed t-shirts for fans while supplies last. There will also be a pregame flyover during the National Anthem, as well as a United States Army boat, tank, and helicopter on display around Fortera Stadium. Austin Peay also will host a swearing-in ceremony for new officers being commissioned into the U.S. Army at halftime.

Coming off its first of two by weeks, Austin Peay enters Saturday's game after taking its first FCS loss of the season at Central Arkansas. The Governors are 4-2 overall with a 1-1 mark in ASUN Conference play and currently lead all ASUN teams in the ASUN-WAC Power Rankings.

The Govs have the ASUN's top defense this season, leading the league in total defense (273.3 ypg) and scoring defense (18.3 ppg) – they rank seventh and 17th in the FCS, respectively, in those categories. No other team in the ASUN holds its opponents to less than 347 yards of offense or 23 points per game this season.

Offensively, Austin Peay quarterback Mike DiLiello ranks seventh in the FCS in passing touchdowns (14) and third in points responsible for (120), he also leads the ASUN in both categories. Wide receiver Drae McCray leads the conference in receptions (38), receiving yards (494), and receiving touchdowns (5) while Trey Goodman's four touchdown catches are tied for the second-best mark in the league.

Saturday's game will feature the Blazin' VIPeay Zone presented by Buffalo Wild Wings, which will be at all five home football games for the 2022 season. Buffalo Wild Wings will provide all-you-can-eat food and drinks – including beer – in the Blazin' VIPeay Zone, which is available to season ticket holders in section M and the VIPeay Zone Chairback section.

Single-game and group tickets are available online at LetsGoPeay.com/buytickets or by calling the Austin Peay ticket office at 931-221-PEAY (7329).

Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Barry Gresham and Ethan Schmidt on the call. Fans also can tune into the Governors Sports Network on ESPN Clarksville (104.1 FM/540 AM) to hear Brian Rives and Bob Belvin call all the action. ESPN Clarksville will kick off its coverage with a re-airing of the Austin Peay Football Coaches Show at 1 p.m., followed by pregame coverage which begins an hour before kickoff.

INSIDE THE FILM ROOM

Check out the Governors official Youtube channel each week for new episodes of Inside The Film Room, game highlights, and much more!

NOTABLY

GOOD DIRECTIONS

In the past six seasons, Austin Peay's 38 victories are tied for 13th most in the FCS and are the most in a five-year stretch in program history. There are three other ASUN Conference teams that rank in the top 16 in FCS wins during the past five seasons – Kennesaw State (51, 4th), Jacksonville State (46, 7th), and Central Arkansas (37, t-16th).

DEFEND THE FORT (AND THE RANKING)

Since debuting in the FCS Polls during the 2018 season, Austin Peay is 7-0 at Fortera Stadium as a ranked team. The Govs won their first game as a ranked team at home when they beat Presbyterian, 24-0, in 2018 before winning three times during the 2019 season, once in 2021, and once so far this season.

END ZONE EMBARGO

Austin Peay's defense is allowing just 6.7 points per game at home this season and has not allowed any second-half points at Fortera Stadium. Eastern Kentucky is the only team to score on the Govs at home, with 20 points in the first half before getting shutout in the second half. The Governors' defense is allowing just 18.3 points per game -- which leads the ASUN and ranks 18th in the FCS -- while no other ASUN team is holding their opponents to less than 23 points per game this season.

GROUND GOVS

Austin Peay has already posted a pair of 300-yard rushing games this season with 322 yards against Eastern Kentucky and 308 yards against Presbyterian. The Govs have not rushed for 300-plus yards multiple times in a season since 2017 when they topped the 400-yard mark twice and the 300-yard mark two more times. Ahmaad Tanner and Kentel Williams led the rushing attack in 2017 with 697 and 674 yards, respectively. This year, Jevon Jackson and CJ Evans Jr. lead the Governors on the ground with 385 and 311 yards, respectively.

THAT'S STONE COLD'S MUSIC

Kory Chapman became the fifth Gov to intercept a pass this season at Central Arkansas. Austin Peay leads the ASUN and is tied for the fifth-best mark in the FCS with seven interceptions this season. The Governors have intercepted a pass in 11 of their last 12 games and have recorded 22 picks during that stretch -- Shamari Simmons leads the way with six of those interceptions.

WALDEN; OR, LIFE AT AUSTIN PEAY

In his first 390 days at Austin Peay, Scotty Walden coached the Govs through 17 games in a 273-day span. His 10 wins during that time are tied with Watson Brown (10-7, 1979-80). Only College Football Hall of Fame coach Boots Donnelly (11-6, 1977-78) had more wins through his first 17 games at Austin Peay. In his 22nd game at Austin Peay, Walden beat EKU to pick up his 14th win and match Brown for the most wins by an APSU head coach in their first 22 games.

PRESEASON PROPAGANDA

In the inaugural ASUN Football Preseason Coaches Poll, Austin Peay received a first-place vote but was tabbed to finish fifth in the league with 15 points. Kennesaw State was picked atop the league with four first-place votes and 34 points, while Central Arkansas – who received a single first-place vote – and Eastern Kentucky were tied for second with 25 points. Fourth-place Jacksonville State received 19 points and North Alabama rounded out the poll with 8 points.

LAST TIME OUT

Austin Peay dropped its first FCS game of the season when it fell 49-20 at Central Arkansas, Oct. 1. Kam Thomas broke a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown -- the longest in program history -- to earn ASUN Special Teams Player of the Week honors before the Governors took their first bye week of the season.

SCOUTING MURRAY STATE

• This is the 56th meeting between Austin Peay and Murray State.  
• It is the seventh nonconference game between the Governors and Racers and the first since 2005.
• Playing its final season of football in the Ohio Valley Conference, Murray State was tabbed to finish third in the league's 2022 Preseason Poll after finishing in fourth place in 2021. The Racers are 0-6 to start the season with back-to-back losses to ranked FCS opponents -- #21 Southeastern Louisiana and #14 UT Martin
• Quarterback DJ Williams, running back Damonta Witherspoon, wide receiver LaMartez Brooks, and offensive lineman Levi Nesler were all named Preseason All-OVC selections. Williams was lost for the season with a knee injury in the season opener at Texas Tech and the Racers have played three quarterbacks since. The trio of quarterbacks have combined to throw for 907 yards, six touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, led by Jayden Stinson, who has passed for 794 yards, all six touchdowns, and 10 picks after debuting against Eastern Illinois, Sept. 24.
• Linebackers Eric Samuta and Darnel Victor were Preseason All-OVC selections, but Victor has made just 11 tackles in five games played. Samuta is the Racers' second-leading tackler with 36 total tackles this season after leading Murray State with 77 total stops last season. Defensive back Jamari Dailey is Murray State's leading tackler this season with 40 tackles, including 24 solo stops, and 3.5 tackles for loss.
• A two-time All-OVC selection and Murray State's leading rusher in each of the past two seasons, Damonta Witherspoon has played in just four games this season, rushing for 140 yards and no touchdowns. Witherspoon ran for 501 yards and five touchdowns in 2020 before racking up 912 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021. Witherspoon has run for 123 yards and a touchdown in two games against Austin Peay.

UP NEXT

Austin Peay will take its second bye week of the season before hosting Jacksonville State for a 3 p.m., Oct. 29 contest at Fortera Stadium. The Govs have won back-to-back games against the Gamecocks with a 52-33 win in Clarksville in 2019 and a 13-10 win in Jacksonville in 2021.