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Postgame Notes and Quotes: Govs vs. #17 West Florida

September 19, 2026

By: Alex Allard, Director of Athletics Communications

GOVS-ARGONAUTS POSTGAME NOTES

Notes following Austin Peay's 38-16 against No. 17 West Florida, Saturday, at Pen Air Field in Pensacola, Florida.

FROM THE TOP

  • Austin Peay's 22-point win is the largest margin of victory (22) against a ranked team on the road in program history, surpassing a 14-point win against Sacramento State in the 2019 FCS Playoffs (12/7/19).
  • The victory also is APSU's first ranked road win since a 30-20 win at #18 Chattanooga (9/2/21).
  • Head coach Jeff Faris improved to 14-14 at the helm of Governors football. It is his first time bringing his career winning percentage to .500 in his APSU career.

CAPTAINS/COIN TOSS

  • Captains Jackson Head, Chris Parson, Markell Redding, and Courtland Simmons took the coin toss for the Governors.
  • Austin Peay won the opening coin toss and elected to receive the ball.
  • Austin Peay is 1-1 when winning the opening coin toss and 10-6 under head coach Jeff Faris.
  • Weather in Pensacola at kickoff: 91 degrees, clear skies, winds west at seven miles per hour.  

SERIES UPDATE            

  • Austin Peay won its first-ever meeting against West Florida.
  • The win is Austin Peay's seventh-straight road win against a first-time opponent.

THOSE ARE THE BREAKS

  • Austin Peay improved to 3-0 when leading at halftime and 13-4 under head coach Jeff Faris.
  • The Governors improved to 3-0 this season and 12-3 under Faris when leading through three quarters.
  • Austin Peay never trailed against UWF; it is its first wire-to-wire win of the season and the ninth under Faris.

RANKED GOVS

  • Austin Peay improved to 25-19 all-time when ranked and 7-4 under Faris.
  • The Governors improved to 16-74 all-time against nationally ranked opponents and 6-40 against nationally ranked opponents on the road.

OFFENSIVE SPARKS

  • Jaden Robinson had a season-high 108 receiving yards and a touchdown. It is Robinson's third 100-yard receiving performance and his first since having 145 yards at Eastern Kentucky (10/11/25).
  • Chris Parson finished the day with 149 passing yards, 59 rushing yards, and a touchdown both on the ground and through the air. It is the ninth time Parson has had both a passing and rushing score in the same game in 16 games at APSU.
  • Denver Harper had one carry for a 41-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter. It was his first-career rushing touchdown and his sixth total touchdown.
  • The Govs finished with 235 yards on the ground. It is the first time the Govs have had 200 rushing yards in back-to-back weeks since a four-game stretch (9/21-10/19/24)

DEFENSIVE STANDS

  • Justin Wimpye's 70-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter was the first by a Governor since Montreze Smith's 35-yard touchdown last season against Samford (11/15/25).
  • Markell Redding's interception during the first quarter was the first of his collegiate career and his first interception since he played at West Florida High School in Pensacola in 2022.
  • The Govs intercepted two passes for the first time this season. It is the APSU's first multi-interception day since its meeting with North Alabama last season (10/25/25).
  • Malik Denkins had a team-high 4.5 tackles for loss are the third most in the FCS this season.
  • Following an 11 tackle for loss performance against Morehead State last weekend, the Govs had 10 against the Argonauts, it is the first time the Govs have had 10 TFLs in back-to-back weeks since a three-game stretch during the 2020-21 season (2/21/21-3/14/21).
  • The Govs had a season-high four sacks, with Demoris Jenkins pacing the team with a career-best 1.5 sacks.
  • The Govs' two forced fumbles are tied for its most since forcing three against Jacksonville State (3/28/21).

GOVS-ARGONAUTS POSTGAME QUOTES

Austin Peay head coach Jeff Faris 

Opening statement… "We're proud of our tradition here. What a great history that we have. To do something like that is special. We're just getting started, and I have to give West Florida a ton of credit. I really respect their head football coach, their program, and the way they do things. We knew it would be a big challenge coming in, and I couldn't be more impressed with our preparation coming into the week and the way that we're able to execute in all three phases. We got a football team that cares about one another, that's connected, and loves competing, and I think that showed tonight. In a hostile environment on the road, you know, this is everything why people love college football, and for our guys to be able to experience this stage, execute the way they did, make history, I couldn't be more excited and more pleased with our team and who we are."

On getting the road win… "It was about us and our process. This team is so different than last year's team. Last year's team was good, but by every metric since we came together on January 20th, this team has blown last year's team away. And nothing is guaranteed when you go take the field on Saturday nights, but we feel pretty good about our product and our process. We don't make a huge deal out of that. We have changed our practice times to practice at night because our games are at night. And I think that's something that is paying dividends for us right now. But really, to me, it comes down to the work, and our guys are tremendously committed and invested in this program and one another. And I think when you do that, and you have a talented group as we have, and they're so invested, I think good things are going to happen whether you're at home or on the road."

On Parson and the box score… "I think it says two things. I think it says how unselfish Chris Parson is. And number two, how a complete football team, offense, defense, kicking game that we are. The ability to run the football and for other guys to make plays. I think it shows how we're much improved this year in those regards."

Austin Peay running back Courtland Simmons

On his career-high 82 rushing yards… "I come out every game the same way. I really just try to hone in on the details and prepare in the best way I can every week. The offensive line gave me such great holes to run through, and it was a great team win."

On the Governors' running back depth… "We have a real family-oriented running back room, and in the summer, that was a big thing with championship connection and just playing for each other, playing for one another, playing our role. Everybody knows that in every game, your role could change on a game-by-game basis. So our job is to just go out there and dominate whatever that'd be from week to week, and we have complete buy-in, and we all support each other, so it's great, it's all support."

Austin Peay defensive back Markell Redding

On holding West Florida to 16 points… "It wasn't our best performance, but we still have to keep stacking. Just keep going in and playing our best brand of football, not really worrying about the other team."

On what the game meant being back in his hometown… "Yeah, it definitely means a little bit more. That was my winning edge this week. Just taking everything personally about this week cause I'm in my hometown. We knew we just had to go out there and execute."

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