GOVS-SALUKIS POSTGAME NOTES

Notes following Austin Peay's 31-17 loss to No. 10 Southern Illinois in its 2024 home opener at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville, Tennessee.

FROM THE TOP

• Austin Smith passed for 292 yards in his first start at Austin Peay, the most passing yards by a Governors quarterback in their starting debut since JaVaughn Craig passed for 322 yards against Tennessee State (2016).
• Defensive back Jaden Lyles led the Govs with a career-best 13 tackles, his first-career double-digit tackle performance.
• Austin Peay dropped its home opener for the first time since falling to Tennessee Tech, 41-7, in the 2016 home opener.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

• Captains Garrett Hawkins, Chandler Kirton, Hosea Knifeley Jr., and Harrison Wilkes took the coin toss for the Governors.
• Austin Peay won the coin toss and deferred its option until the second half. Southern Illinois elected to receive the opening coin toss.
• Austin Peay is 2-0 at the opening coin toss under head coach Jeff Faris.
• The Governors are 0-2 this season when they win the opening coin toss.
• Weather in Clarksville at kickoff: 75 degrees, clear skies, winds northeast at 13 mph.

SERIES UPDATE            

• Austin Peay falls to 2-7 all-time against Southern Illinois.
• The Governors fall to 0-3 all-time against the Salukis in Clarksville.
• Southern Illinois has won the last seven meetings in the series after Austin Peay won the first two meetings in 1938 and 1939.

THOSE ARE THE BREAKS

• Austin Peay falls to 0-2 this season when trailing at the half.
• The Governors also fall to 0-2 when trailing at the end of the third quarter.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

• Quarterback Austin Smith went 24-of-37 for 292 yards and two touchdowns.
• Smith's 24 completions are the most by an APSU quarterback in their first start since Adam Pineo completed 25 passes in his first start against Morehead State in 1997.
• Romon Copeland Jr. had career-highs with nine receptions for 151 yards, which is the most receiving yards by a Gov since Kam Thomas totaled 204 yards at Eastern Kentucky (2023).
• Copeland Jr. also totaled 235 all-purpose yards, the most by a Gov since Drae McCray had 299 all-purpose yards against Tennessee Tech (2021).
• Copeland Jr.'s 19-yard touchdown catch was his first as a Governor.
• Jaden Barnes had three receptions for 77 yards and hauled in his second-career touchdown catch on a 43-yard reception.
• Malik Bowen-Sims had a career-best four receptions for 26 yards.

DEFENSIVE STANDS      

• Lyles' 13 tackles are the most by a Governors since Xavier Smith totaled 13 tackles in the First Round of the 2023 FCS Playoffs against Chattanooga.
• Jakari Patterson, Davion Hood, and Marquez Casey each recorded 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Casey and Tim Alderman each tallied a sack while Hood and Kinstin Reeves shared a sack.
• Za'Heir Barnes-Vaughn led the Govs with two pass breakups.
• Sammy Anderson Jr. recorded his first-career interception on a botched Southern Illinois field goal; he intercepted the pass in the endzone and was downed for a touchback.

SPECIAL TEAMS SYNOPSIS

• Romon Copeland Jr. led the Governors with 71 kickoff return yards and 13 punt return yards.
• Carson Smith missed his first-career field goal attempt from 46 yards but connected on a 33-yard kick for his first-career made field goal.
• Smith also went 2-for-2 on PATs.
• Dominik Stadlman punted four times for 171 yards and a 42.8-yard average.
• Stadlman's long punt of the day was a 44-yard kick.
• Smith also kicked off four times for a 65-yard average with four touchbacks.

GOVS-SALUKIS POSTGAME QUOTES

Austin Peay head coach Jeff Faris

Opening Statement… "I am proud of the way our guys fight in all three phases. I think we really, really improved from Week 1. Our kids give relentless effort; it's really the little things. We are bringing a big group of guys together and we have just got to learn and grow through it. So, we are going to study the tape, but I couldn't be more excited about the guys in our locker room and the culture in our locker room."

On a facing a tough schedule early in the season … "We knew what we signed up for and I wouldn't have it any other way. We don't want to have the best team in September; we want to have the best team in November, December, and January. Now, we wanted to win both of these games, and we did everything we could to win both of these games, but conference play starts on Saturday in Conway, Arkansas, and we are going to be ready.

On the APSU offensive line…  "I thought they fought, and let's be honest, last year's [Southern Illinois] defense was fourth in the FCS in total defense and scoring defense; that team is really, really good. Our guys did battle, and I thought we did a good job up front. They move a lot, they are big, and they are strong. If you watch the BYU tape, they couldn't move SIU, and I was impressed. Obviously, as I watch the tape, there are going to be a hundred things that we are going to want to hunt and learn from, but our group front, they are hungry, and they are tough. They may be our most improved group; I am proud of that group."

Austin Peay quarterback Austin Smith

On a facing a tough schedule early in the season… "I think it's a blessing, it is a new team with a new coach and a lot of new players. I think it is good to get some tougher opponents at the beginning of the season to really test what you have… It is good to get some tough opponents, but each week is going to be tough, so I think it's a blessing for sure."

On his first start at APSU… "I give all the grace to the man above. I went into this week calm, cool, and collected, and I think that's a big part of my game. I have a great team around me that supported me, I didn't start the first game, but they rallied around me and gave me the confidence I needed to go out there and play at a high level. We didn't get the job done today, and I'll be better, and we'll be better as a team as we continue to grow each and every week."