GOVS-LIONS POSTGAME NOTES

Notes following Austin Peay's 31-17 win over North Alabama in United Athletic Conference action at Braly Stadium in Florence, Alabama.

FROM THE TOP

• Quarterback Austin Smith started the game with 19-consecutive completed passes, totaling 259 passing yards and three touchdowns during that stretch.
• Austin Smith's 406 passing yards are the fourth-best single-game total in program history and just the fourth 400-yard passing game in program history.
• Austin Smith went 31-of-35 through the air; his 88.6 completion percentage is an Austin Peay single-game record, topping Jesse Kellogg's 87.5 completion percentage against Kentucky Wesleyan in 2003.
• Jaden Barnes' 241 receiving yards are the second-best single-game receiving total in Austin Peay history, trailing only Harold "Red" Roberts's program-record 252 yards against Murray State in 1969.
• The Governors totaled a season-best 525 yards of total offense; it was the first game with 500-plus yards during the Jeff Faris Era.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

• Captains Garrett Hawkins, Chandler Kirton, and Harrison Wilkes took the coin toss for the Governors.
• North Alabama won the opening coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
• Austin Peay is 5-4 at the opening coin toss this season.
• The Governors are 3-1 this season when they lose the opening contest.
• Weather in Florence at kickoff: 73 degrees, fair, winds east at 3 mph.

SERIES UPDATE            

• Austin Peay improved to 9-13 all-time against North Alabama.
• The Governors have won three-straight meetings with the Lions and three-straight games against the Lions in Florence, Alabama.'
• The Govs improved to 4-7 all-time against UNA in Florence, where they have not lost since 1975.
• Austin Peay has won all three conference games against North Alabama since the program joined the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic Conferences.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

• In its final road game of the 2024 regular season, Austin Peay improved to 3-2 on the road this season.
• The Governors won their final three road games of the season, with all three being UAC victories.

UAC WINS

• Austin Peay improves to 9-3 all-time in United Athletic Conference contests.
• The Governors improved to 6-1 all-time on the road in UAC games.

THOSE ARE THE BREAKS

• Austin Peay improved to 4-0 when leading at halftime.
• The Governors improved to 4-1 this season when leading at the end of the third quarter.
• The Govs never trailed and picked up their third wire-to-wire win of the season.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

• Austin Peay's 525 yards of total offense was the most since it posted 690 yards at Lindenwood in 2023.
• The last time the Govs topped 500 yards of total offense was when they had 520 yards against North Alabama in 2023.
• APSU's 406 passing yards is the sixth-best single-game total by a team in program history and the best single-game mark since passing for 420 yards at Lindenwood in 2023.
• The Govs' 88.6 completion percentage is the best single-game mark by a team in program history.
• The Govs' 31 completions are tied for the fifth-best single-game mark by a team in program history.
• The Governors offensive line did not allow a sack for the first time this season, the last time the Govs didn't allow a sack was against Gardner-Webb in 2023.
• Austin Smith's 31 completions for 406 yards and four touchdowns were all career highs.
• Austin Smith's 406 passing yards were the most by a Gov since Mike DiLiello threw for 441 yards against ETSU in 2023.
• Austin Smith's 31 completions are tied for the sixth-best game in APSU history and are the most since DiLiello completed 31 passes against Gardner-Webb in 2023.
• Austin Smith's four touchdown passes are tied for the 10th-best single-game in APSU history and are the most since Mike DiLiello threw four touchdowns at Eastern Kentucky in 2023.
• Smith's 88.6 completion percentage is the best mark by a Gov since Mike DiLiello completed 80.0 percent of his passes against North Alabama in 2023.
• Austin Smith's 57 and 49-yard touchdown passes to Jaden Barnes are the two longest touchdown throws by the Govs this season.
• Jaden Barnes' 12 receptions are tied for the second-best game in program history and are the most by a Gov since Drae McCray had 12 catches at Alabama in 2022.
• Barnes' three receiving touchdowns are tied for the fifth-best single-game in APSU history and are the most by a Gov since DeAngelo Wilson had three touchdown catches against North Carolina Central in 2019.
• Romon Copeland Jr. had seven receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown.
• Tight end Jackson Head posted career-highs with five receptions for 46 yards.
• Malik Bowen-Sims also matched his career high with four receptions.
• La'Vell Wright led the Govs on the ground with 14 carries for 61 yards.

DEFENSIVE STANDS      

• Austin Peay's defense held North Alabama to 116 rushing yards and is allowing just 112.2 rushing yards per game in its last six contests.
• The Governors' defense forced North Alabama's offense to go three-and-out four times in the contest.
• Keith Gallmon Jr. and Jaden Lyles led the Govs with seven tackles each.
• Gallmon Jr. picked up his first tackle for loss as a Governor.
• Jesse Johnson III, Sammy Anderson Jr., and Dion Hunter each had six tackles for the Govs.
• Bo Spearman tallied the Govs' only sack against North Alabama and now leads the team with 3.0 sacks this season.
• Spearman also recorded five tackles and a pass breakup.
• Chase Allen picked up his second tackle for loss of the season in a two-tackle outing.
• Dion Hunter and Jakari Patterson also shared a tackle for loss.
• Ellis Ellis Jr. added his second interception of the season; the pick sealed the victory with 2:06 left in the fourth quarter.

SPECIAL TEAMS SYNOPSIS

• Dominik Stadlman punted one time for 54 yards and a touchback.
• Carson Smith made a 37-yard field goal and went 1-of-3 on field goal attempts in the game.
• Smith was 4-of-4 on PATs and scored seven points in the contest.
• Smith also kicked off six times for a 60.5-yard average with four touchbacks.

GOVS-LIONS POSTGAME QUOTES

Austin Peay head coach Jeff Faris

Opening Statement…  "I couldn't be more proud of our team. We talk about this every time we hop on after our games; regardless of the outcome, our kids fight. Today was a great example of that. We had an unbelievable week of practice and these kids, they love this program, they work their tails off, and we have gotten better every single week. We are a different team than we were early in the season; I think we are playing as well as anybody in the country right now. I love our guys."

On quarterback Austin Smith… "Austin Smith deserves all the credit. His hard work is why he is comfortable; he lives in our offices studying film. He is an unbelievable young man, and he works his tail off. He is spending so much time after practice with receivers getting extra work in, and I think it shows. Unbelievable effort by him today, that was a whole lot of fun."

On the Govs' receivers… "The players deserve all the credit. They were finding ways to get separation, and it wasn't just AJ [Jaden Barnes]; it was Malik Bowen-Sims, Romon Copeland Jr., and the whole crew. They did an unbelievable job playing without the ball, and I am maybe more proud of that than anything else; it is a selfless group. Then they fight for one another; I am so proud of AJ Barnes and the rest of the gang."

Austin Peay wide receiver Jaden Barnes  

On the success of the Govs' passing attack… "The results come from Monday through Friday, us putting in work and putting it together Monday through Friday at walkthroughs and practice. So, it all just came together, and it showed today. It's practicing the little things every single day, trusting my coaches, my teammates, and just this whole organization, and taking it day by day."

Austin Peay quarterback Austin Smith 

On allowing zero sacks… "I think it's just a testament to our o-line. Our o-line gave me enough time to make the right reads, and then on top of that, they gave up zero sacks. I think that's the biggest thing, so it's a testament to them. And then to our play calling, they trusted me with the short, easy throw to get me in a rhythm, and I think that's what helped me.

On opening the passing game with short completions … "It opens up a lot, the run game too, the short, easy stuff that we complete, it forces the defense to get greedier and then bite on it. We ran a double move today, and it hit, so the short stuff definitely opens up the deeper stuff… It made my job easier. My receivers, they work, tight ends, they all work hard. So, we were due for a big game; I'm just glad it was tonight. We need to continue to build on it and get better each week, and not get complacent and finish out the season strong."