[SCENE]
Three Governor fans are leaving the stadium after Saturday's demolition job against Gardner-Webb and are elated that Austin Peay is 4-2 and firmly in control of its own destiny heading into the second half of the season.
The fans, who we'll call CASEY, ALEX, and CODY for the sake of narrative, can't agree on who should receive the bulk of the credit for Austin Peay's recent run of outstanding play and are making impassioned pleas to the others to see their side of things. Nonetheless, they are elated at the idea Austin Peay football might have finally earned a bit more national respect after Saturday.
CASEY: It's the offense and the repeated records and myriad times the phrase, "Whatever-number-best performance in Austin Peay history" has been used in the postgame notes. Have you guys seen what Mike DiLiello has done lately? Jevon Jackson? Even without CJ Evans Jr., this offense hasn't missed a thing. The line is amazing, the receivers are choice and they're averaging 44 points over the last four games. Nobody can stop these guys.
CODY: No, no… it's the defense. Look, I'll give you that the offense has done amazing stuff lately, but look at how clutch the defense has been. They gave Tennessee fits, locked up Stephen F. Austin, and have made life a veritable hell for every offense since the season opener. It's the defense that keeps swinging games with timely turnovers and tone-setting stops. It's the defense that changed the game with pick-sixes against Stephen F. Austin and again this week against Gardner-Webb.
ALEX: I think you're both wrong here. It's the special teams, the WE-fense, that's been the unsung heroes of this. It starts with Riley Stephens sending every kickoff through the back of the end zone; it ends with Maddux Trujillo putting everything off his foot through the uprights. In between times, anyone foolish enough to kick to Kam Thomas has seen the error of their ways; him being the guy back deep has set up more than one short field just because nobody wants him to make a house call on them.
CASEY: Fair point, but even then – you don't want to kick to Kam? That's fine. The Govs will get him the ball on offense, in space, and let him cook. The scheme has been incredible the last few games, and it's getting everybody involved on that side of the ball. Shoutout Scotty, Jared Kaster, Lanear Sampson, and that offensive staff.
CODY: He's got you there, Alex. I still think you guys are overlooking what the defense has done. The offense is averaging 44? The defense is surrendering… wait for it… 11 points per game over the last four games. The offense could just get near the red zone and the wins would keep rolling in. And it's somebody new every game – Cedarius Doss, Kory Chapman, Tyler Long, another guy is stepping up each week. JJ Clark, Chris Jones, and the coaches on the defensive staff have given opponents nothing and taken from them everything.
ALEX: While I still think you're overlooking a crucial component, I'll give you this: for everything they've got going on, you won't find better coverage and return units than the Govs. Joe Pappalardo is doing something right over there.
CASEY: Look, we can argue about this all we want, but really, the big question is this: when will we be ranked? What else does this team have to do? What else can they do?
CODY: No idea. If this doesn't get us more votes, I don't know what will.
ALEX: I'd love to be ranked on homecoming. That would be three times in five years… would be pretty cool after zero times in the first 70 or so years of the event. Really give people something to celebrate.
CASEY: [sighs wistfully] Maybe people will start respecting this team soon.
[END SCENE]
Saturday was more of the same things that everyone has grown accustomed to over the last month. A fire-breathing offense annihilating everything in its path; a defense chewing up the opposing offense and leaving naught but a grease spot behind. Auto-Maddux. Game-changing defensive plays. A little trickery on offense. All a treat for everyone.
The faces may change from week-to-week – against Gardner-Webb, it was Kory Chapman laying lumber and scoring pick-sixes and Tre Shackleford and Trey Goodman running free in the Runnin' Bulldog secondary, but the most fun part of the last few games has been everyone getting a little of the lime light. Ten different Govs have taken the ball into the end zone on the offensive side of the ball over the last four games, and three defenders have scored to add to this embarrassment of point-producing riches.
"We were ready and hungry," said Chapman, the latest defender to find the end zone. "They were running this same play on third down every time today, so I tried to drop down and bait him this time and when he threw it, it was over. We were so ready today to get back out and put that work in against another team."
Soon, the next round of rankings will go out from the coaches and media covering the FCS. It's about time more of them recognized what Austin Peay was bringing to the table.
"I think this team is pretty tired of not being recognized," Walden said postgame. "We have a great president, a great AD, great coaches and great players. We have a great thing going, and at some point, you've got to give credit where it's due. We're not going to get caught up in it, but our players recognize that we don't get the respect we deserve sometimes."
If not, no big deal. Next week is another opportunity for the Govs to prove they belong in the upper echelon of the sport.
