GOVS-EAGLES POSTGAME NOTES

Notes following No. 22 Austin Peay's 56-7 win over Morehead State in the 2025 home opener at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville, Tennessee.

FROM THE TOP

• Austin Peay's 429 rushing yards are the eighth-best single-game total in program history and its first 400-yard rushing game since totaling 518 yards on the ground against Morehead State in 2018.
• The Govs' seven rushing touchdowns also were their most since they had six rushing touchdowns against Tennessee State in 2018.
• Six Austin Peay players scored a rushing touchdown against Morehead State, matching the record for the most players with a rushing touchdown in the digital record-keeping era (dating back to 2001). Previously, the Govs had six players with a rushing touchdown against Morehead State in 2017.
• Austin Peay's 8.8 yards per carry are its most since it averaged 13.3 against Morehead State in 2018.
• Offensive lineman Chandler Kirton had one rush for one yard and a touchdown; he is the first Austin Peay offensive lineman to score a touchdown since Ryan Rockensuess against Central Florida in 2017.
• The Govs held Morehead State to just six rushing yards on 19 carries, marking the first time they held a team to fewer than 100 rushing yards since they held Middle Tennessee to 44 yards in the season opener.
• Morehead State's six rushing yards are the fewest the Govs have allowed since holding UT Martin to -25 yards in 2019.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

• Captains Javious Bond, Davion Blackwell, Jackson Head, and Chris Parson took the coin toss for the Governors. Chandler Kirton and Myles Wiley also served as captains for Austin Peay.
• Morehead State won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening coin toss.
• Austin Peay is 1-2 at the coin toss this season and 8-7 under head coach Jeff Faris.
• Austin Peay improved to 1-1 this season and 4-3 under Faris when they lose the opening coin toss.
• Weather in Clarksville at kickoff: 91 degrees, fair skies, winds east at 5 mph.

SERIES UPDATE            

• Austin Peay improved to 21-27 all-time against Morehead State and 13-9 against the Eagles in Clarksville.
• The Governors improved to 5-5 against Morehead State in nonconference games.
• The Govs won their sixth-straight game against Morehead State dating back to 2006.

RANKED GOVS

• The Governors improved to 19-15 all-time when nationally ranked.
• The Govs improved to 10-3 all-time at home when nationally ranked.
• Austin Peay improved to 1-0 when nationally ranked under Faris.

THOSE ARE THE BREAKS

• Austin Peay improved to 1-0 this season and 6-2 under head coach Jeff Faris when leading at halftime.
• The Governors improved to 2-0 this season and 6-2 under Faris when leading after three quarters.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

• Austin Peay's 700 yards of total offense is the third-best single-game mark in program history and the best since it had 734 yards of total offense against Kentucky Wesleyan in 1994.
• Austin Peay's team completion percentage of 78.3 is tied for the fourth-best single-game mark in APSU history, matching the Govs' single-game mark against Furman in the 2019 FCS Playoffs.
• The Govs had 10 players with a reception, the best single-game total since 11 Govs had a catch against ETSU in 2023.
• Austin Peay's 49 rushes are tied for its most since it ran the ball 55 times against Utah Tech in 2023.
• The Govs had eight offensive touchdowns for the first time since they scored nine times on offense against Presbyterian in 2022.
• Quarterback Chris Parson's 60-yard rushing touchdown – his first-career rushing touchdown – was the longest rushing touchdown by a quarterback since JaVaughn Craig's 70-yard rushing touchdown in 2016.
• Javious Bonds' 84-yard touchdown run – his first-career touchdown as a Gov – is the third-longest rush in APSU history and the longest since Otis Gerron's 89-yard rushing touchdown against Mercer in 2014.
• Courtland Simmons had a team-best five catches for 107 yards; he is the first Austin Peay running back with 100-plus receiving yards since Kentel Williams against Furman in the 2019 FCS Playoffs.
• Simmons also is the first Govs' running back to lead the team in receiving yards since Williams in the 2019 FCS Playoffs against Furman.
• Freshman Isaiah Groves led the Govs with 12 carries, totaling 63 yards and a touchdown in his collegiate debut.
• Simmons also had four carries for 39 yards and two touchdowns, his first-career multi-touchdown game.
• Corey Richarson also had four rushes for 31 yards and a touchdown.
• Chris Parson completed 11-of-14 passes for 199 yards in the first half, before Austin Smith went 7-of-9 for 72 yards and a touchdown in the second half.
• Julien Randolph III had two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown – his first collegiate touchdown.
• Simmons led the Govs with 146 all-purpose yards, while Bond added 84, and Kaden Williams totaled 69 all-purpose yards.

DEFENSIVE STANDS      

• Austin Peay held Morehead State to 178 yards of total offense, which is the best single-game mark of the Jeff Faris Era and the fewest it has allowed since limiting Mississippi Valley State to 121 yards of total offense in 2022.
• Austin Peay's defense limited Morehead State to just 0.32 yards per carry on 19 attempts.
• The Governors' defense also held the Eagles to 3-of-11 on third-down conversion attempts.
• Morehead State's 172 passing yards are the fewest Austin Peay's defense has allowed since holding Utah Tech to 110 yards in 2024.
• Markell Redding led the Govs' defense with five tackles – including four solo stops – and a pass breakup.
• Ellis Ellis Jr., Will Middleton, Raylyn Manley, and Stephen Ellison II each added four tackles.
• Ellison II also recorded his first-career interception and the Governors' first interception of the 2025 season.
• Demoris Jenkins led the Govs with 1.5 sacks, while Charles Crews III and Chase Allen added 1.0 tackles for loss.
• Kinstin Reaves, Marcus Howard, and Jeffson Locke each had half a sack, while Anthwone Montgomery II and Ke'Tre Dickens each had half a tackle for loss.
• Allen and Howard each added a pass breakup as well.

SPECIAL TEAMS SYNOPSIS

• Carson Smith went 8-for-8 on PATs, matching the career-high eight PATs he made against Alabama A&M in 2024.
• Logan Leftrick punted twice for a 32-yard average with a long punt of 37 yards.
• Corey Richarson returned one kick for 15 yards.

GOVS-EAGLES POSTGAME QUOTES

Austin Peay head coach Jeff Faris

Opening Statement… "I couldn't be more proud of our group, the way that we came and played a complete football game… We've got a long way to go and a lot of getting better to do, but I'm proud of our progress. The best part is that our guys understand that in the way that they work. I thought our Wednesday practice this week was as good as we've had, and the guys responded because we didn't practice the way we needed to on Tuesday, which tells me we have the right group of guys in our locker room. I couldn't be more proud and excited."

On his program… "We have 110 players, and we develop them all. We go two-spot, and every kid gets coached. I've got the best assistant coaching staff in the country. I think you say the same thing for the offensive line and the receiver group. Our tight end group got Alec Pell back today. Austin Smith is a heck of a quarterback, and he just happens to be here with Chris, and they make each other better every day."

On offensive lineman Chandler Kirton… "Chandler Kirton scored a touchdown today. He's everything that's right with Austin Peay football. He could have left, but he wanted to stay, and he knew the first year was going to be tough because of all the attrition. But he stayed, and he's built a foundation and a culture. So, I think the confidence has been earned. We didn't play a very easy schedule. We played two FBS teams, let's talk about that for a second. These kids haven't flinched. This culture, this community hasn't flinched, and I'm excited."

Austin Peay running back Isaiah Groves

On recovering from an injury during his final prep season… "The first week after I tore my ACL, it was emotional; I couldn't play my senior year. So, working through that and having my mom push me to go to rehab every day and get better so I can come out and play, I felt like my old self today because my teammates were pushing me."

Austin Peay offensive lineman Chandler Kirton

On the Govs' process… "I think it starts with our everyday process throughout the week. Coach Faris always says, Sunday through Friday needs to be the best, the elite. And I think it's important that you go in every day, and you attack every day, because how you're going to work during the week is how you're going to come out on Saturday night and play. So, I think we put together a really good process throughout the week, and it paid off."

On Austin Peay… "This place is like a family to me. When I was coming out of high school, I had an offer from every division except the FBS. Austin Peay was my only Division I offer. They took a chance on me, and it's been a heck of a ride so far, and it's not over yet. But I'm extremely fortunate. It's great to be around everyone here; they push me every day to be the best person, on and off the field, so that's the reason I stayed, and I'm darn glad I did."