ABILENE, Texas – Quarterback Chris Parson totaled a career-high four touchdowns and 330 passing yards, while Jackson Head's 132 receiving yards were the most by a tight end in program history; however, the No.18-ranked Austin Peay State University football team dropped a 45-31 decision to No. 14 Abilene Christian, Saturday, at Wildcat Stadium.
After back-to-back punts by both teams to open the game, Abilene Christian began its second offensive drive from the Governors' four-yard line following an APSU fumble. The Wildcats took just one play to score the game's first touchdown on a quarterback rush. ACU answered following a missed field goal by APSU with a seven-play, 63-yard touchdown drive, extending its lead to 14-0 on the third play of the second quarter.
A Carson Smith 22-yard field goal cut APSU's deficit to 18, but the Wildcats capitalized off the Govs' second fumble on their next offensive possession, driving 22 yards before scoring its third touchdown of the opening half. The Wildcats then went 92 yards on the final possession of the opening half and ended the period with a 23-yard field goal as time expired.
After ACU scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the first half, the two sides traded four-straight three-and-outs. Then a 43-yard reception by Head highlighted APSU's first touchdown-scoring drive of the contest, which set the Govs up for a two-yard rushing touchdown by Parson. Following ACU's third-straight three-and-out, a 27-yard reception by Head again set up Parson for a rushing score – this one from the one-yard line on a designed quarterback run up the middle.
Parson's second rushing score was the first of five-straight touchdown drives, with Parson finding Jaden Robinson at the Abilene Christian 30-yard line and the Purcellville, Virginia native racing into the endzone, cutting APSU's deficit to 14 points.
The Governors and Wildcats then traded the final two touchdowns of the evening, with Head scoring on a six-yard touchdown reception with 1:56 remaining in regulation. An APSU onside attempt was recovered by the Wildcats, who, after a rush for minimal gain on first down, kneeled on the final two plays of regulation.
Parson finished the game 24-for-38 with 330 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also led APSU's rushing attack with 38 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 17 attempts.
Head led Austin Peay with 132 receiving yards and a score, while Robinson also eclipsed 100 yards, finishing with seven receptions for 114 yards and a score.
Defensively, Montreze Smith Jr. led the team with nine tackles, while Raylyn Manley had eight tackles and paced the Govs with six solo stops and two pass breakups.
Abilene Christian quarterback Stone Earle finished 30-for-42 with 339 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. He also led ACU's rushing attack with four carries, 46 yards, and two touchdowns.
Up next, Austin Peay returns home for its first UAC game at Fortera Stadium this season when it takes on Utah Tech at 1 p.m., Sept. 27 in Clarksville, Tennessee. The Week 5 contest between the Governors and Trailblazers will be streamed on ESPN+.
Scoring Summary
APSU 0, ACU 7 – 1 play, 1 yard, 0:04
Abilene Christian took over on the Austin Peay four-yard line following a Governors' fumble. The Wildcats scored the day's first points on a designed quarterback run up the middle to go up 7-0.
APSU 0, ACU 14 – 7 plays, 63 yards, 3:10
After taking over on its own 37-yard line, the Wildcats advanced into APSU territory on the drive's second play and to the Govs' 38 on the opening play of the second quarter. Following a 10-yard completion, Abilene Christian extended its advantage following a 26-yard touchdown pass to Raydrian Baltrip in the endzone.
APSU 3, ACU 14 – 11 plays, 63 yards, 4:20
Chris Parson completed a pair of passes for 43 yards and rushed twice for nine yards on Austin Peay's first scoring drive. Javious Bond opened the possession with a pair of carries for 12 yards, before Parson connected with Shemar Kirk for a 12-yard completion. Four plays later, he found Jaden Robinson for a 31-yard completion to the Wildcats' 12. After picking up seven yards over its next three plays, Carson Smith connected on a 22-yard field goal to cut APSU's deficit to 11.
APSU 3, ACU 21 – 6 plays, 22 yards, 2:48
Abilene Christian took over on the Governors' 22-yard line after an APSU fumbled handoff. The Wildcats extended their lead to 18 following a five-yard touchdown pass from Wildcats quarterback Stone Earle to Dallas Dudley.
APSU 3, ACU 24 – 11 plays, 92 yards, 1:07
Despite taking over on its own two-yard line with 1:07 to play in the opening half, the Wildcats drove 92 yards and ended the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal. The drive was highlighted by a 41-yard reception on third-and-six from its own 34, before gaining 19 yards over the next four plays to set up for the 23-yard kick.
APSU 3, ACU 31 – 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:47
Abilene Christian went 6-for-6 for 69 yards through the air on the first possession of the second half, with the drive being capped off by a four-yard pass from Stone Earle to Jed Castles.
APSU 10, ACU 31 – 4 plays, 58 yards, 2:27
Facing a third-and-four from the APSU 48-yard line, an offsides called on ACU moved the chains. Chris Parson then connected with Jackson Head at the 35-yard line, who ran up the left sideline before being tackled at the four. ACU was called for a defensive holding penalty on a jump-ball to Head in the endzone, and Parson responded with a two-yard rushing score.
APSU 17, ACU 31 – 7 plays, 60 yards, 2:17
After forcing Abilene Christian to its third-straight three-and-out, Austin Peay took over on its own 40-yard line. Chris Parson completed a five and six-yard pass to Nate Garnett Jr. and Jaden Robinson, respectively, to move the chains. A seven-yard rush by Javious Bond was followed by an ACU offsides. Parson then connected with Jackson Head once again for a 27-yard gain and Parson ran it in two plays later from the one on a designed quarterback run up the middle for the score.
APSU 17, ACU 38 – 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:59
Abilene Christian responded to the Governors' touchdown with one of their own. After a pair of penalties by the Govs, ACU connected on a 35-yard touchdown to re-extend its lead to 21.
APSU 24, ACU 38 – 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:28
With 10:35 remaining in the fourth quarter, Chris Parson led the Governors on a quick, 88-second drive while going 4-for-4 for 75 yards. Jaden Robinson and Shemar Kirk picked up gains of six and 12, respectively. Parson then found Robinson on back-to-back plays, with the second being caught by Robinson at the ACU 30, and he raced into the endzone to make it a two-score game.
APSU 24, ACU 45 – 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:05
After crossing the 50 on a defensive pass interference, the Wildcats took just three plays to find the end zone again, with Stone Earl connecting with Raydrian Baltrip for a 55-yard touchdown.
APSU 31, ACU 45 – 16 plays, 75 yards, 5:49
Chris Parson led Austin Peay 75 yards down the field on the final scoring drive of the evening, with a 22-yard pass to Kamari Maxwell setting the Govs up at the ACU 29. A 12-yard reception by Jackson Head set up the Govs with first-and-goal from the three and, four plays later, Parson connected with Head for the night's final touchdown.
