GOVS-MOCS POSTGAME NOTES

Notes following Austin Peay's 24-17 loss to Chattanooga in the 2024 season finale at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville, Tennessee.

FROM THE TOP

• Austin Peay outgained Chattanooga 314-288 in total offense.
• The Governors limited Chattanooga to 81 rushing yards on 34 carries.
• The Govs' defense recorded two interceptions and finished the season with 14 picks.
• Jaden Barnes had six catches for 57 yards and a touchdown, he finished the season with 1,083 receiving yards, which is the third-best single-season mark in Austin Peay history.
• Austin Smith went 21-of-36 for 192 yards and a touchdown, he finished the season with 2,354 passing yards, which is the sixth-best single-season in APSU history.
• Carson Smith went 1-for-1 with a 35-yard field goal and finished the season with 13 made field goals, which is tied for the third-best season in program history.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

• Captains Garrett Hawkins and Chandler Kirton took the coin toss for the Governors.
• Austin Peay won the coin toss and deferred its option until the second half. Chattanooga elected to receive the opening kickoff.
• Austin Peay is 7-5 at the opening coin toss this season.
• Austin Peay is 1-6 this season when it wins the opening coin toss.
• Weather in Clarksville at kickoff: 53 degrees, fair skies, no wind.

SERIES UPDATE            

• Austin Peay falls to 1-8 in the all-time series against Chattanooga.
• Austin Peay has dropped back-to-back games to Chattanooga after picking up its first win in the series during the 2021 season.

THOSE ARE THE BREAKS

• Austin Peay falls to 0-2 this season when the game is tied at halftime.
• The Governors drop to 0-6 when trailing at the end of the third quarter.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

• With 21 completions against Chattanooga, Austin Smith finished the season with 213 completions, the fourth-most in a season in APSU history and the sixth 200-completion season.
• Smith also finished the season with 15 passing touchdowns – the ninth-best season in APSU history.
• Smith also ran for 31 yards and had a season-long 23-yard rushing touchdown.
• Jaden Barnes caught a touchdown for the fourth-straight game, he finished the season with nine receiving touchdowns, which is tied for the sixth-best season in program history.
• Barnes averaged 90.3 receiving yards per game this season, which is the seventh-best single season mark in Austin Peay history.
• Romon Copeland Jr. led the Govs with seven catches for 54 yards, he finished the season with 64 receptions, which is tied for the eighth-best season in program history.
• Tae Gayden had a career-best two catches for 23 yards.
• Khatib Lyles recorded his first catch of the season on a 35-yard reception.
• La'Vell Wright led the Govs with 12 carries for 50 yards.
• Copeland Jr. also had a season-high four carries for 37 yards.

DEFENSIVE STANDS      

• Austin Peay's defense held the Mocs to just 2.4 yards per carry.
• The Govs held Chattanooga to 5-of-13 on third-down conversions.
• Austin Peay had an interception in 9-of-12 games and had multiple picks in four games.
• Keith Gallmon Jr. led the Govs with a career-high 13 tackles, including nine solo tackles and a tackle for loss.
• Jaden Lyles also recorded nine tackles and a pass breakup.
• Jesse Johnson III recorded his fourth interception of the season and finished the year tied for the team lead in picks.
• Johnson III also added five tackles and a tackle for loss.
• Ellis Ellis Jr. posted his third interception of the season and totaled a career-best six tackles – all solo stops.
• Davion Blackwell, Dorian Davis, and Hosea Knifeley Jr. each had a half tackle for loss.
• Jaden McKinney and Marquez Casey each had half a sack.
• Jakari Patterson and Bo Spearman each tallied a pass breakup.

SPECIAL TEAMS SYNOPSIS

• Carson Smith went 2-for-2 on PATs and finished the season with 32 made PATS, which is tied for the eighth-best season in program history.
• C. Smith was 32-of-33 on PATs this season and his 96.97 PAT percentage is the seventh-best single-season mark in APSU history.
• Dominik Stadlman punted six times for a 40.8-yrad average with three kicks downed inside the 20-yard line and a long of 58 yards.
• Stadlman finished the season with a 43.01-yard punting average, which is an Austin Peay program record.
• Kaden Williams returned three kicks for 57 yards with a long return of 35 yards.
• Romon Copeland Jr. had one kick return for 45 yards.

GOVS-MOCS POSTGAME QUOTES

Austin Peay head coach Jeff Faris

Opening Statement… "I wanted to send the seniors out the right way, we didn't accomplish that, and that is never acceptable. I just want to thank these seniors. They did not take the easy path, they fought for this university and they love this place. They fought today even when we were down. I could not be more proud of that group."

On the season… "I learned a ton this year, just like I did as an assistant. I've learned from these players and how they work every single day. We talk about finding ways to get better, never being content, and having a starving mentality. I just want to continue to learn and continue to grow."

Austin Peay quarterback Austin Smith

On the season… "It's a culmination of things. I could've been better. I won't point the fingers at anyone, but I think I could've done better. We just wanted to finish on a high note, it would've been nice to send the seniors off the right way. It didn't happen. For the guys that are coming, we'll remember how this season felt and work our tails off in the offseason to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Austin Peay defensive back Keith Gallmon Jr.

On his career… "It's been a blessing. I'm grateful for each year and I've taken none of it for granted. There were a lot of hard times with injuries, but I just had the mindset to keep coming back and getting stronger. During my first game this season, I was just happy to be out there and be a part of the group again. This group of guys were very special for me, they brought me in. They continued to encourage me."

On the final game of his career… "It was big because it's my last one. A lot of thought and emotions throughout the week went into this game. Just for me to go out leaving it all on the field and being there for my team one last time, it felt great. It hasn't set in yet. I just wanted to play hard for my teammates, I was going to give it all. It makes it easy to play when you're playing with guys that love football."