Nashville, TN – Michael German threw for 203 second-half yards and two touchdowns to lead Tennessee State to a 34-14 season-opening Ohio Conference victory, Saturday afternoon, in the first game played at Hale Stadium since 1998.
The game also was the first of Sergeant York Trophy series-one of only two traveling trophy series in the country. The four Tennessee OVC schools compete for the trophy.
The victory improved Tennessee State to 3-0 on the season while the Govs fell to 0-3. It was APSU’s first season-opening OVC loss in the last three years.
APSU led 14-9 at halftime but it was all TSU in the second half. In fact, the Tigers limited the Governors to just three third-quarter yards and in the process turned around the game’s momentum.
In fact, the Tigers scored on its first possession of the third quarter to take the lead, using a 15-yard penalty to help set up the score.
Penalties, in fact, led to the Govs’ undoing. They were penalized 10 times for 120 yards and the penalties contributed to both the first two second-half scoring drives. The second TD, early in the fourth quarter, allowed the Tigers to gain game’s control.
German finished the game 27 of 36 for 318 yards and three TDs. His favorite target, Travis James, had nine catches for 109 yards and a TD.
As good as James was he took a backseat to APSU senior Devin Stark, who had nine catches for 124 yards and two TDs, both in the first half.
In the first half, the Govs relied on the running of Wesley Kitts, the passing combo of Jake Ryan-to-Stark and a stubborn defensive front that would not allow the Tigers to establish their running game. Kitts got the Govs going early with a 44-yard run.
Although penalties and a sack prevented the Govs from scoring, it allowed APSU to establish field position. After TSU was unable to move the ball a second straight possession, it helped set up APSU’s first TD drive along with a roughing-the-punter against TSU.
The 10-play 63-yard drive was culminated on a spectacular one-handed 20-yard catch in the right corner of the end zone to put APSU up, 7-0, with 5:12 left in the half.
TSU responded by driving 49 yards in 11 plays, settling for a Jamin Godfrey 43-yard field goal.
Later in the quarter, TSU took advantage of a APSU personal foul penalty to set up a Michael German to Travis James 27-yard scoring play to put TSU up 9-7 after Godfrey had his extra point clank off the left upright.
However, the Govs came right back with their season’s best drive, going 75 yards on 12 plays as they mixed four runs with seven pass completions, three to Stark. The last one was in the end zone to give APSU a 14-9 lead, an advantage it took into intermission.
APSU outgained TSU 204-133 in the opening half, but it was a 301-164 second-half advantage for the Tigers. The second-half dominance also was reflected in time of possession. After both teams held the ball 15 minutes apiece in the first half, TSU held a 19:25 to 10:35 advantage in the final half.
APSU did not force a turnover during the day while TSU came away with two Ryan interceptions.
APSU Post-Game Notes
This is Austin Peay’s 40th Ohio Valley Conference season. The Govs are 95-178-2 all-time in OVC play, including 10-30 in OVC openers. The Govs lost their first OVC in three years with Saturday’s loss to Tennessee State.
APSU saw its three-game winning streak end against Tennessee State.
In dropping the 34-14 decision, the Govs lost the opener of the 2012 Sergeant York Trophy series.
This was the Govs first game at Hale Stadium since October 26th, 1996. The Govs remain winless in “The Hole” at 0-5.
Saturday’s game was the first since Austin Peay rejoined the OVC in 2007 that wasn’t decided by three points or less.
For a third straight week APSU played a team where opposing head coaches were alums of their respective schools. Rick Christophel played for APSU (1971-74) while Rod Reed (1984-88) played for Tennessee State.
With a 12-yard first-quarter pass reception, Devin Stark reached the 1,000-career pass reception yard mark in his career. He becomes only the 13th receiver in school history with 1,000 receiving yards.
Stark followed up his 1,000 receiving yards with a spectacular one-handed 20-yard TD catch in the right corner of the end zone.
The OVC’s second-leading rusher, TSU’s Trabis Ward, was held to eight yards on seven carries in the first quarter. He finished with 49 yards on 21 carries while the OVC’s fourth-leading rusher, Wesley Kitts ended with 91 yards on 16 carries.
When TSU’s Travis James caught a 27-yard, second-quarter TD pass against APSU, it was the seventh TD pass allowed by the Govs this season. They allowed two more TD passes in the contest.
Jake Ryan not only had more passing yards in the first half than he had all last week, those 114 yards were more than he had combined (73) in the first two games.
Stark finished the first half with six catches for 92 yards and two TDs-both APSU scores, one a 20-yard score and the other a seven yarder. He ended the game with nine catches for 124 yards, his second 100-yard receiving game of his career.
The Governors were charged with 75 yards in penalties in the first half. They had more than 100 after three quarters and finished with 120 yards on 10 penalties. The two teams combined for 20 penalties for 216 yards.
Austin Peay totaled just three yards in the third quarter.
Attendance of 14, 264 was one of the top 20 crowds in Hale Stadium history.
After the two teams split 50-50 (15 minutes apiece) on time of possession in the first half, TSU held a commanding 19:25 to 10:35 advantage in the second half.
APSU now has allowed 906 passing yards in three games.
Box Score
Austin Peay (0-3,0-1) vs. Tennessee State (3-0,1-0)
Date: September 15th, 2012 • Site: Nashville, Tennessee Stadium: Hale Stadium • Attendance: 14264
Score by Quarters
1
2
3
4
Score
Austin Peay
7
7
0
0
14
Tennessee State
3
6
8
17
34
SCORING SUMMARY
APSU -TSU
1st
05:12
APSU
STARK, Devin 20 yd pass from RYAN, Jake (STANSELL, Stephen kick)
10 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:17
7 – 0
00:50
TSU
GODFREY, JAMIN 43 yd field goal
11 plays, 49 yards, TOP 4:22
7 – 3
2nd
08:43
TSU
JAMES,TRAVIS 27 yd pass from GERMAN, MICHAEL (GODFREY, JAMIN kick failed)
4 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:12
7 – 9
03:32
APSU
STARK, Devin 8 yd pass from RYAN, Jake (STANSELL, Stephen kick)
12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:11
14 – 9
3rd
08:46
TSU
WARD,TRABIS 2 yd run (GARLINGTON, WEL pass from GERMAN, MICHAEL)
10 plays, 58 yards, TOP 3:41
14 – 17
4th
13:23
TSU
GLEAVES,JOHNTAE 4 yd pass from GERMAN, MICHAEL (GODFREY, JAMIN kick)
17 plays, 93 yards, TOP 6:51
14 – 24
07:06
TSU
GODFREY, JAMIN 39 yd field goal
8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 3:50
14 – 27
02:12
TSU
LEONARD,A.C. 51 yd pass from GERMAN, MICHAEL (GODFREY, JAMIN kick)
7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:32
14 – 34
Kickoff time: 1:00pm • End of Game: 4:14pm • Total elapsed time: 3:14 Referee: Ken Switzer • Umpire: Thomas Floyd • Linesman: Chris Flatt • Line judge: Phillip DeWitt • Back judge: Tom Hahs • Field judge: Rod Whittier • Side judge: Tim Fetsch • Scorer: Jerome Dooley • Temperature: 81 deg • Wind: NNE 6mph • Weather: Mostly Cloudy
Team Statistics
Team Totals
APSU
TSU
FIRST DOWNS
22
25
Rushing
6
6
Passing
15
14
Penalty
1
5
NET YARDS RUSHING
94
112
Rushing Attempts
26
39
Average Per Rush
3.6
2.9
Rushing Touchdowns
0
1
Yards Gained Rushing
121
128
Yards Lost Rushing
27
16
NET YARDS PASSING
271
322
Completions-Attempts-Int
25-48-2
28-37-0
Average Per Attempt
5.6
8.7
Average Per Completion
10.8
11.5
Passing Touchdowns
2
3
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS
365
434
Total offense plays
74
76
Average Gain Per Play
4.9
5.7
Fumbles: Number-Lost
1-0
1-0
Penalties: Number-Yards
10-120
10-96
PUNTS-YARDS
5-195
3-127
Average Yards Per Punt
39.0
42.3
Net Yards Per Punt
33.6
42.3
Inside 20
1
1
50+ Yards
0
0
Touchbacks
1
0
Fair catch
1
0
KICKOFFS-YARDS
3-195
7-419
Average Yards Per Kickoff
65.0
59.9
Net Yards Per Kickoff
43.7
45.0
Touchbacks
2
2
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD
0-0-0
2-7-0
Average Per Return
0.0
3.5
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD
4-64-0
1-24-0
Average Per Return
16.0
24.0
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD
0-0-0
2-0-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD
0-0-0
0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards
0
0
Possession Time
25:35
34:25
1st Quarter
6:15
8:45
2nd Quarter
8:45
6:15
3rd Quarter
4:16
10:44
4th Quarter
6:19
8:41
Third-Down Conversions
6 of 16
8 of 16
Fourth-Down Conversions
1 of 2
0 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances
2-3
2-3
Touchdowns
2-3
2-3
Field goals
0-3
0-3
Sacks By: Number-Yards
2-18
1-9
PAT Kicks
2-2
2-3
Field Goals
0-1
2-3
Individual Statistics
Austin Peay
Tennessee State
RUSHING
No.
Gain
Loss
Net
TD
Lg
Avg.
KITTS, Wesley
16
94
3
91
0
44
5.7
OLIVER, Terrence
5
18
1
17
0
18
3.4
TUCKER, Cody
1
6
0
6
0
6
6.0
WILLIAMS, Reco
1
2
0
2
0
2
2.0
RYAN, Jake
3
1
23
-22
0
1
-7.3
Totals…
26
121
27
94
0
44
3.6
RUSHING
No.
Gain
Loss
Net
TD
Lg
Avg.
HOOKS, TELVIN
14
68
2
66
0
16
4.7
WARD,TRABIS
21
51
2
49
1
11
2.3
BROUGHTON, TIM
2
7
0
7
0
7
3.5
GERMAN, MICHAEL
2
2
12
-10
0
0
-5.0
Totals…
39
128
16
112
1
16
2.9
PASSING
Cmp-Att-Int
Yds
TD
Long
Sack
RYAN, Jake
25-48-2
271
2
26
1
Totals…
25-48-2
271
2
26
1
PASSING
Cmp-Att-Int
Yds
TD
Long
Sack
GERMAN, MICHAEL
27-36-0
318
3
51
2
TURNAGE III, R
1-1-0
4
0
4
0
Totals…
28-37-0
322
3
51
2
RECEIVING
No.
Yds
TD
Lg
STARK, Devin
9
124
2
26
LEMON, Robert
4
47
0
20
CLENDENEN, Tyler
3
28
0
14
EMBRY, Jamaar
3
20
0
11
KITTS, Wesley
2
16
0
11
OLIVER, Terrence
2
6
0
3
ADAMS,Ashlon
1
16
0
16
CLACK, Darryl
1
14
0
14
Totals…
25
271
2
26
RECEIVING
No.
Yds
TD
Lg
JAMES,TRAVIS
9
109
1
27
LEONARD,A.C.
5
82
1
51
GARLINGTON, WEL
3
51
0
27
BOWENS, JOE
3
39
0
29
WARD,TRABIS
3
29
0
14
WILSON, DEVIN
3
3
0
4
FRETT, VERNON
1
5
0
5
GLEAVES,JOHNTAE
1
4
1
4
Totals…
28
322
3
51
PUNTING
No.
Yds
Avg
Long
In20
TB
CAMPBELL, Ben
5
195
39.0
47
1
1
Totals…
5
195
39.0
47
1
1
PUNTING
No.
Yds
Avg
Long
In20
TB
GODFREY, JAMIN
3
127
42.3
47
1
0
Totals…
3
127
42.3
47
1
0
Punts
Kickoffs
Intercept
ALL RETURNS
No
Yds
Lg
No
Yds
Lg
No
Yds
Lg
OLIVER, Terrence
0
0
0
1
22
22
0
0
0
RUTLEDGE, J.J.
0
0
0
3
42
25
0
0
0
Totals…
0
0
0
4
64
25
0
0
0
Punts
Kickoffs
Intercept
ALL RETURNS
No
Yds
Lg
No
Yds
Lg
No
Yds
Lg
STEVENSON, MART
0
0
0
1
24
24
0
0
0
GODBOLT III, ST
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
VAN DYKE, DAVID
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
BERRY, RYAN
2
7
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
Totals…
2
7
6
1
24
24
2
0
0
ALL PURPOSE
Rush
Rcv
KR
PR
IR
Total
STARK, Devin
0
124
0
0
0
124
KITTS, Wesley
91
16
0
0
0
107
LEMON, Robert
0
47
0
0
0
47
OLIVER, Terrence
17
6
22
0
0
45
RUTLEDGE, J.J.
0
0
42
0
0
42
CLENDENEN, Tyler
0
28
0
0
0
28
EMBRY, Jamaar
0
20
0
0
0
20
ADAMS,Ashlon
0
16
0
0
0
16
CLACK, Darryl
0
14
0
0
0
14
TUCKER, Cody
6
0
0
0
0
6
WILLIAMS, Reco
2
0
0
0
0
2
RYAN, Jake
-22
0
0
0
0
-22
Totals…
94
271
64
0
0
429
ALL PURPOSE
Rush
Rcv
KR
PR
IR
Total
JAMES,TRAVIS
0
109
0
0
0
109
LEONARD,A.C.
0
82
0
0
0
82
WARD,TRABIS
49
29
0
0
0
78
HOOKS, TELVIN
66
0
0
0
0
66
GARLINGTON, WEL
0
51
0
0
0
51
BOWENS, JOE
0
39
0
0
0
39
STEVENSON, MART
0
0
24
0
0
24
BROUGHTON, TIM
7
0
0
0
0
7
BERRY, RYAN
0
0
0
7
0
7
FRETT, VERNON
0
5
0
0
0
5
GLEAVES,JOHNTAE
0
4
0
0
0
4
WILSON, DEVIN
0
3
0
0
0
3
GERMAN, MICHAEL
-10
0
0
0
0
-10
Totals…
112
322
24
7
0
465
FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
STANSELL, Stephen
4th
10:56
41 yards
Missed
FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
GODFREY, JAMIN
1st
00:50
43 yards
Good
GODFREY, JAMIN
2nd
00:00
49 yards
Missed
GODFREY, JAMIN
4th
07:06
39 yards
Good
KICKOFFS
No.
Yds
TB
OB
Avg.
STANSELL, Stephen
3
195
2
0
65.0
KICKOFFS
No.
Yds
TB
OB
Avg.
GODFREY, JAMIN
7
419
2
1
59.9
FUMBLES: Austin Peay-RYAN, Jake 1-0. Tennessee State-GERMAN, MICHAEL 1-0.