JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A trio of Austin Peay State University football players have earned weekly awards from the United Athletic Conference after standout performances in Saturday's 55-31 win against Eastern Kentucky.
Redshirt junior quarterback Chris Parson was named UAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, while senior defensive lineman David Portu and redshirt junior running back and kick returner Kaden Williams were named Defensive Player and Specialist of the Week, respectively.
Parson got it done through the air (13-for-21 for 194 yards and a touchdown) and on the ground (14 carries for 137 yards and two scores) against the Colonels, marking the 13th time in 22 games he's scored a rushing and passing touchdown in the same game. The Brentwood native broke the program career records in both total touchdowns (63) and total yards (6,458), became the first quarterback in program history with back-to-back seasons with 10 or more rushing touchdowns and became just the fifth player in program history with 5,000 career passing yards.
Portu, a native of Fort Myers, Florida, equaled the program record set in 2000 with four sacks against the Colonels as part of a career day that included six total tackles, a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry. He now leads the UAC with eight sacks on the season despite playing in just seven games.
A native of Thibodaux, Louisiana, Williams took the opening kickoff back 100 yards for a score to set the tone against the Colonels, setting the program record for longest kick return and becoming the first Gov to take the opening kickoff back for a score since Terrence Holt in 2007. He also rushed for a 33-yard first-quarter touchdown and finished the game with 190 all-purpose yards, 138 of which came on kick returns.
Austin Peay's triumphant week marks just the second time this season a team has earned three of the four weekly honors from the UAC; Tarleton State took a trio of honors for the week of October 19. It's the first time since 2023 the Govs have earned a trio of weekly honors, when Tyler Long (Defensive), Maddux Trujillo (Specialist) and Xavier Smith (Freshman) earned honors from the ASUN.
The Govs return to action Saturday against Abilene Christian for the regular season home finale; kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Fortera Stadium.
