APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – In front of a record crowd at Fortera Stadium of 7,507 fans, Austin Peay State University’s football team dropped its home and Ohio Valley Conference opener to Tennessee Tech, 41-7, Friday night in Fortera Stadium.
The Golden Eagles got off to a quick start offensively, scoring their first touchdown less than four minutes into the contest en route to a 28-0 halftime lead on the Govs.
Inside the Box Score
Austin Peay set a Fortera Stadium attendance record with 7,507 fans on hand.
A week after recording a career-best 14 tackles at Troy, redshirt sophomore Gunnar Scholato made 11 stops from his linebacker position, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
Junior safety Malik Boynton tied his career-high in tackles with nine, six of those being solo. Boynton also had a career-high with two pass break ups.
Freshman defensive end Jaison Williams was credited with seven tackles on the night, his highest total since joining the Governors.
In his first game at Austin Peay, Lloyd Tubman made seven tackles against the Golden Eagles, and was also credited with half a sack.
Timarious Mitchell‘s 72-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Franklin in the third quarter was Austin Peay’s longest play from scrimmage since last season vs. Tennessee Tech. It was also the longest TD pass for Mitchell in his Gov career.
Sophomore Tommy Hays got the start under center, but was replaced by Mitchell early in the second quarter.
APSU rotated Mitchell and Tommy Hays at quarterback with the duo combining to go 6-for-20 for 157 yards through the air.
In addition, Mitchell was Austin Peay’s leading rusher with nine carries for 54 yards.
Quotes
Head Coach Will Healy on the physicality of the game
“We have to create turnovers and we can’t turn the ball over. That’s the key to anyone’s success. I thought we somehow became more physical as the game went along, maybe that’s good moving forward, but they were more physical than us in the first half and we just never responded.”
Head Coach Will Healy on the improving for the next game
“We have to keep working and improving. I was talking to our guys in the locker room afterwards and we’re going to figure out what we’re about these next two weeks. We’ve got an off week so we can lick our wounds a little bit and continue to get better.”
Summary
1st quarter
TTU 11:33 – A 40-yard pass play set up Tennessee Tech’s first touchdown – a 25-yard rush by Yeedee Thaenrat.
TTU 7:12 – A 5-play, 58-yard drive by the Golden Eagles was capped off with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Michael Birdsong to Andre Goldsmith.
2nd quarter
TTU 7:10 – Tennessee Tech quarterback Michael Birdsong led a 9-play drive, which ended with a 23-yard touchdown to Austin Hicks.
TTU 00:51 – On 4th and 4, Birdsong tossed his third touchdown pass, this time to Jordan Smith from 39 yards out.
3rd quarter
APSU 11:31 – On a swing pass thrown by Timarious Mitchell, Marvin Franklin broke free for a 72-yard touchdown. Extra point by Nick Gauna was good.
TTU 6:07 – Birdsong increased his touchdown total to four with a 10-yard strike to Brock McCoin in the back of the endzone.
4th quarter
TTU 12:20 – Nick Madonia connected on a 27-yard field goal to extend Tennessee Tech’s lead to 38-7.
TTU 8:14 – 22-yard field goal by Madonia split the uprights, his second of the game.
What’s Next
Austin Peay serves its bye week next Saturday before traveling to Eastern Illinois, September 24th.
