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Postgame Notes and Quotes: Govs vs. Gardner-Webb

August 27, 2026

By: Alex Allard, Director of Athletics Communications

GOVS-RUNNIN' BULLDOGS POSTGAME NOTES

Notes following Austin Peay's 35-17 win over Gardner-Webb in the Governors' season opener at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville, Tennessee.

FROM THE TOP

  • Austin Peay wins the regular season opener for the second straight season, the first time since 2009-10 that the Govs have won back-to-back season openers.
  • Austin Peay wins the home opener for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons.
  • The Governors move to 36-19 at Fortera Stadium.
  • Austin Peay won its seventh-straight home game, the longest unbeaten streak at home since an eight-game streak spanning the 1964-65 seasons.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

  • Captains Jackson Head, Chris Parson, David Portu, Markell Redding, and Courtland Simmons took the coin toss for the Governors.
  • Gardner-Webb won the coin toss and deferred its option until the second half. Austin Peay elected to receive the opening kickoff.
  • Austin Peay fell to 0-1 at the opening coin toss this season and 11-14 under head coach Jeff Faris.
  • The Governors dropped to 1-0 this season and 8-6 under Faris when they lose the opening coin toss.
  • Weather in Clarksville at kickoff: 87 degrees, sunny, winds east at 6 mph.

SERIES UPDATE            

  • Austin Peay improved to 2-2 all-time and 2-1 in Clarksville against Gardner-Webb.
  • The Governors have won back-to-back meetings with the Runnin' Bulldogs in Fortera Stadium.

DEFEND THE FORT

  • Austin Peay improved to 36-14 at Fortera Stadium since 2017.
  • The Governors improved to 1-0 at Fortera Stadium this season and 8-6 under Faris.

THOSE ARE THE BREAKS

  • Austin Peay improved to 1-0 this season and 10-3 under head coach Jeff Faris when leading at halftime.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

  • Chris Parson recorded his fifth career 300-yard passing performance in 13 games at Austin Peay.
  • Parson's rushing touchdown in the third quarter was his 15th rushing touchdown in his career at Austin Peay.
  • Parson went 14-of-21 for 308 yards and a touchdown; it was his first 300-yard passing game this season.
  • Denver Harper led the Govs with three receptions for 108 yards with a 49-yard touchdown.
  • Courtland Simmons rushed 11 times for 73 yards, while also recording a pair of rushing touchdowns – his second career game with multiple rushing scores.
  • Isaiah Groves recorded 31 yards on the ground in 11 carries, with a rushing touchdown.
  • Marvin Sims had three catches for 78 yards, with a long of 53 yards – the longest reception of the game, and longest since Nate Garnett Jr., a 70-yard catch against Samford on November 15, 2025.
  • Jackson Head had two receptions for 61 yards, with a long of 49 yards. It was Head's third 50-yard receiving game, and first since North Alabama on October 25, 2025.

DEFENSIVE STANDS

  • Austin Peay held Gardner-Webb to 32 rushing yards on 20 attempts – its fewest rushing yards allowed since holding Morehead State to six, Sept. 13, 2025.
  • The Governors held the Runnin' Bulldogs to just two rushing yards on seven carries in the second half – the best mark in a half since holding Morehead State to zero rushing yards on six attempts in the second half last season.
  • Canaan Williams and Trevor Hardy both led the Governors with a career-best 10 tackles.
  • Williams and Hardy are the first APSU duo to record 10 tackles since Kahlil Tate and Montreze Smith Jr.  at Southern Utah, Nov. 1, 2025.
  • Hardy also forced his first-career fumble on Gardner-Webb's first drive of the game.
  • Eli Jones, who earned his first-career start at linebacker, also had a career-high seven total tackles and a team-best 1.5 tackles for loss.
  • Kelton Crisp had his first-career sack on the second play of the second half.
  • Ta'Ron Haile recorded his first-career interception on Gardner-Webb's first drive of the second half.

GOVS-RUNNIN' BULLDOGS POSTGAME QUOTES

Austin Peay head coach Jeff Faris

Opening statement… "I am tremendously proud of our team. We looked like a team playing our first game in the first half. We found a way to win the second half, and I thought we made critical stops on defense there at the end, made big plays on offense, and then won on special teams to steal a possession. I think that says everything about our culture and our fight; we've got a long way to go. Our challenge this next week is to be the most improved team in the country, going from week one to week 2. And I can't wait to attack that thing with this group. I love our team, and tonight they just confirmed who we were."

On the defense… "I was really impressed, and I think we could have put them in a better position offensively if we took advantage of the onside kick and then put points on the board, but those guys, they don't care, just spot the ball. I thought Pennington played his tail off. What a heck of a player. But our defense kept fighting. This is a challenge to prepare for Northern State or UTPB in an opening game, and they gave us every look imaginable, but I thought we adjusted well and made the plays when it came down to it."

On the newcomers… "They played almost every snap. I think Eli Jones played every series, and Canaan is always on the field. To play that well in their first game in this defense, I think that says a lot. Canaan got here in June, Eli's been here since January, and Eli's been through so much. Eli lost his mother in July, and he is such a remarkable young man. I wish I had his strength. He's an inspiration to me every single day, um, and how he fights and works, and he is the quintessential of what I want all of our players to be like. And I think Denver Harper is the same way. We got a bunch of them, and that's why it's such a fun group to coach."

Austin Peay quarterback Chris Parson

On his return for year two at Austin Peay… "Preparing in the offseason and just improving from year one to year two. Like I've said plenty of times, I love my teammates, I love my coaches, and we built a great bond last year, and we really came together. I fell in love with this place, and so just understanding that going into the second year, as Coach Faris has said throughout the offseason, we've changed our limits, and so when I say unfinished business, we understand that we have goals and aspirations to play for a national championship. So that's where our focus is at, and it was great to be able to get a win tonight and move in that direction."

On getting through Week 0… "It felt great being back out there with the guys, especially in the fourth. Obviously, we didn't start the way we wanted to. We started pretty slow in my opinion, and we have to be better, and that starts with me. We found our groove during the game, made some really good plays here and there, and got some drives going. But obviously, we have high standards for ourselves here, so we'll watch this film, learn from it, and be ready to go next week."

Austin Peay wide receiver Denver Harper

On his offseason and performance tonight… "The offseason was about just grinding, focusing, and getting ready for the big moment. I feel like tonight went pretty well. It didn't go perfectly. It can always go better. But I feel like it went pretty well from my first start and second game in college, and I'm just thankful."

On what this game does for his confidence… "I was nervous before the game. I played one game last year, but I haven't really played football since high school, so it was definitely nerve-wracking, but this game allowed me to just settle in and allowed me to know that I have what it takes and be able to be myself on the field and not worry about all the outside stuff."

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