GOVS-COLONELS POSTGAME NOTES

Notes following No. 15 Austin Peay's 34-20 loss to Eastern Kentucky in United Athletic Conference action at Roy Kid Stadium in Richmond, Kentucky.

FROM THE TOP

• Austin Peay recorded 473 yards of total offense – its second-best single-game mark this season – and has 400-plus yards of total offense in five-straight games.
• Quarterback Chris Parson rushed for a touchdown in the fifth-straight game; he is the first Gov to accomplish that feat since Jevon Jackson ran for a touchdown in five consecutive games from Sept. 16 to Oct. 21 during the 2023 season.
• Jaden Robinson had a career-best eight receptions and 145 receiving yards – those are both the best single-game marks by a Governor this season.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

• Captains Jackson Head, Chandler Kirton, Chris Parson, and Myles Wiley took the coin toss for the Governors. Davion Blackwell and Javious Bond also served as captains for Austin Peay.
• Eastern Kentucky won the coin toss and deferred its option until the second half. Austin Peay elected to receive the opening kickoff.
• Austin Peay is 3-4 at the opening coin toss this season and 10-9 under head coach Jeff Faris.
• The Governors are 1-3 this season and 4-5 under Faris when they lose the opening coin toss.
• Weather in Richmond at kickoff: 73 degrees, fair skies, winds northeast at 5 mph.

SERIES UPDATE            

• Austin Peay falls to 8-49 all-time and 4-26 in Richmond against Eastern Kentucky.

RANKED GOVS

• The Governors fell to 21-17 all-time and 8-13 on the road when nationally ranked.
• Austin Peay drops to 3-2 when ranked under head coach Jeff Faris.

THOSE ARE THE BREAKS

• Austin Peay is 3-1 this season and 7-3 under head coach Jeff Faris when leading at halftime.
• The Governors are 1-1 this season and 1-1 under Faris when tied at the end of the third quarter.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

• Parson's seven rushing touchdowns this season are tied with Daniel Williams (1996) for the fifth-most by a quarterback in a single season in Austin Peay history.
• Parson's seven rushing touchdowns are tied with Carlton Flatt (1962-64) and Rick Christophel (1971-74) for the seventh-best career total by a quarterback in APSU history.
• Parson went 22-of-37 for 283 yards and one touchdown; he also led the Govs with 21 carries for 76 yards.
• Robinson's 145 receiving yards are the most by a Gov since Jaden Barnes had 179 receiving yards against Abilene Christian (11/9/24).
• Isaiah Groves rushed six times for 71 yards and averaged 11.8 yards per carry.
• Courtland Simmons had two catches for 26 yards and a 15-yard receiving touchdown; it was his first-career touchdown reception, and the second touchdown catch by an APSU running back this season.

DEFENSIVE STANDS      

• Austin Peay held Eastern Kentucky to 68 total yards and zero rushing yards in the first half.
• Montreze Smith Jr. and Myles Wiley led the Governors with eight tackles each.
• Davion Hood and TJ Cox Jr. each recorded a sack; they are both tied for the team lead with 3.0 sacks this season.
• Hood also has recorded a tackle for loss in all seven games this season and leads the Governors with 7.0 tackles for loss.
• Joquarri Price and Antori Hamilton each had half a sack; Hamilton finished the game with 1.0 tackle for loss.

SPECIAL TEAMS SYNOPSIS

• Corey Richarson returned five kicks for a career-best 125 yards, which is the best single-game total by a Gov since Kentel Williams returned five kicks for 139 yards against Tennessee State (10/6/18).
• Carson Smith went 2-for-2 on field goals to improve to 7-for-9 on the season.
• Smith also improved to 20-for-29 in his career and is the eighth kicker in Austin Peay history with 20-career made field goals,
• Smith also went 2-for-2 on PATs and improved to 30-for-30 this season, he ranks seventh in APSU history with 62-career PATs.
• Gavin Myers punted four times for a 38.2-yard average, had three kicks downed inside the 20-yard line, and had a long punt of 46 yards.

GOVS-COLONELS POSTGAME QUOTES

Austin Peay head coach Jeff Faris

On Saturday's game… "Give credit to EKU. They played a very, very good game. There's a lot of instances where we kind of beat ourselves. I thought our defense did a heck of a job, and you look at the fourth quarter, and we're exactly where we want to be, and we just have to find a way to finish. But that responsibility falls on me, and we will learn, and we will grow from this."