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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – In a decisive clash against its longstanding conference rival, Austin Peay State University’s football team aims to secure a third consecutive victory this Saturday at 1 p.m. This pivotal United Athletic Conference matchup against Eastern Kentucky will take place at Fortera Stadium, coinciding with Clarksville Kicks Cancer Day, dedicated to raising awareness and support for cancer initiatives.
In its previous outing, Austin Peay faced a narrow defeat against No. 15 Abilene Christian, losing 35-34, which brought their overall record to 4-6 and their UAC record to 3-4 under the leadership of first-year head coach Jeff Faris. As they approach the final two games of the season, the Governors currently occupy sixth place in the UAC standings, while Eastern Kentucky finds itself tied for third, boasting a solid 6-4 overall record and a 4-2 mark in conference play.
Austin Peay has historically performed well against Eastern Kentucky, posting a 4-2 record in their last six encounters. A victory this Saturday would mark a significant milestone, as it would grant the Governors more wins against the Colonels since 2017 than they achieved in the first 57 years of the rivalry from 1959-2016. Furthermore, a win would be the first time in series history that the Govs have pulled off three straight wins against Eastern Kentucky.
The Governors have struggled at Fortera Stadium this season, with a home record of 1-4, yet they maintain an impressive 29-12 record on their home turf since the 2017 season began. In contrast, Eastern Kentucky has also found road games challenging, holding a 1-4 record away from home this season and an overall 8-18 road record under their fifth-year coach, Walt Wells.
In the last game, wide receiver Jaden Barnes had a standout performance, catching six passes for an impressive 179 yards and two touchdowns. His remarkable feat made him the first player in Austin Peay history to achieve back-to-back games with over 150 yards receiving. Quarterback Austin Smith also shone, completing 18 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns, along with contributing 22 rushing yards and a touchdown. Smith has now become the first APSU quarterback to record 300-plus passing yards in consecutive games since Mike DiLiello did so against North Alabama and Eastern Kentucky earlier in the season.
Rushing leader La’Vell Wright was instrumental against Abilene Christian, carrying the ball 17 times for 66 yards and finding the end zone once. This season, Wright stands out among the Governors, racking up 543 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 95 carries.
Defensively, Dion Hunter made his presence felt by notching 10 tackles, alongside 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack against Abilene Christian. With a season total of 83 tackles, he leads the Governors and ranks 31st in the FCS, while also sitting fourth in the UAC. Jaden Lyles, who contributed eight tackles during the game, follows closely with 79 total tackles, placing him 40th in the FCS and fifth in the UAC.
Austin Peay’s defense has proven formidable, ranking 15th in the FCS with a total of 11 interceptions this season, which places them second in the UAC. Remarkably, the Governors have recorded at least one interception in 7 of their 10 games, with multiple interceptions occurring in three contests. Six different players have claimed an interception this season and the unit has also recovered two fumbles, ranking 52nd in the FCS and fourth in the UAC with a total of 13 turnovers gained.
Saturday’s contest, proudly presented by Tennova Healthcare of Clarksville, embraces Clarksville Kicks Cancer Day. Attendees will be welcomed with complimentary “GOVS” trucker hats, courtesy of Tennova Healthcare, distributed upon entrance to Fortera Stadium while supplies last.
Fans eager to catch the action can purchase single-game and group tickets online at LetsGoPeay.com/BuyTickets, via Ticketmaster, or by contacting the Austin Peay Athletics ticket office at 931-221-PEAY (7329). Detailed ticket offers and information about the Fan Experience at Fortera Stadium are available in this week’s preview.
Additionally, the Blazin’ VIPeay Zone, sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings, offers an all-you-can-eat menu, including beer, at home games this season. Located in the south end zone under the scoreboard, the VIP zone opens one hour before kickoff and remains accessible until halftime.
Fans can enjoy live coverage of Saturday’s game, which will be streamed on ESPN+ with commentators Alex Gould and Ethan Schmidt. Alternatively, supporters can listen to the Governors Sports Network on ESPN Clarksville (104.1 FM/540 AM) or through the TuneIn app, where Brian Rives and Van Stokes will provide play-by-play commentary. ESPN Clarksville will kick off the coverage by re-airing the Austin Peay Football Coaches Show at 11 a.m., preceding a pregame segment that begins an hour before kickoff.
NOTABLY
REPEAYT CHAMPS
In a historic accomplishment, Austin Peay has secured back-to-back conference championships, winning the 2023 United Athletic Conference and the 2022 ASUN Conference titles. This achievement adds to the program’s accolades, totaling three championships across three different conferences since 2019.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’
Since 2017, Austin Peay boasts 54 victories, ranking them tied for the 10th-most wins in the FCS and eighth-most among current FCS programs. This impressive tally makes them the top team in the UAC during this period, outpacing Central Arkansas (53) and Eastern Kentucky (45). The Governors’ impressive 54 wins in the last eight seasons represents their most successful eight-year stretch in program history, exceeding the 51 victories compiled in 19 seasons (1998-2016). Moreover, the Governors have achieved five winning seasons since 2017, a stark contrast to the eight winning seasons in their previous 39 years in the FCS from 1978-2016.
NOVEMBER AIR
Before facing No. 18 Chattanooga in the first round of the 2023 FCS Playoffs, Austin Peay enjoyed an impressive 14-game winning streak in FCS contests during November. They have triumphed in 15 of their last 18 games in November, with a stellar 15-2 record in this timeframe. Notably, prior to their recent defeat against Abilene Christian, the Governors had an astonishing streak of 15 consecutive regular-season FCS victories in November, with seven of those wins coming on the road.
FARIS ERA, YEAR I
Knoxville native Jeff Faris stepped into the role of Austin Peay’s 22nd head football coach in December 2023. As he approaches the conclusion of his inaugural season, Faris needs two victories to secure the fifth-most wins for an Austin Peay head coach in their debut season. The record is held by Mark Hudspeth, who achieved 11 wins during his first season in 2019.
ALL THREE PHASES
In a remarkable display, Austin Peay scored touchdowns from offensive, defensive, and special teams units during the first quarter against Alabama A&M—potentially a first in program history. Their last performance scoring touchdowns across all three phases happened against ETSU on September 16, 2023; however, it wasn’t achieved within a single quarter. Historical records indicate the only other instance of the Governors scoring touchdowns in all three phases occurred in a previous win against No. 11 Tennessee Tech on October 1, 1994.
SCOUTING THE COLONELS
- Saturday marks the 56th meeting between Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky, with the Colonels historically leading the series 47-8.
- Austin Peay has secured four victories against Eastern Kentucky in their last six encounters dating back to 2017.
- The Governors are 2-0 against the Colonels in both Atlantic Sun and United Athletic Conference contests.
- Coming off a 5-6 overall season and a 4-2 UAC record in 2023, Eastern Kentucky is projected to finish fourth in the UAC’s 2024 Preseason Coaches Poll. Having recently clinched back-to-back wins over No. 7 Tarleton State and No. 16 Central Arkansas, the Colonels hold a strong 6-4 overall record, tied for third in the UAC.
- With Parker McKinney no longer under center, Eastern Kentucky quarterback Matt Morrissey leads the offense, ranking fourth in the UAC in both passing yards (1,629) and touchdowns (11), while completing 148 passes. Dequan Stanley is the team’s go-to receiver, currently 17th in the UAC in receiving yards (370) and tied for sixth in touchdown receptions (5).
- The Colonels’ defense ranks 49th in the FCS, allowing an average of only 24.4 points per game, which places them second in the UAC. They also rank 44th in the FCS with 14 turnovers gained. Leading the team with 8.1 tackles per game is Maddox Marcellus, while Darrian Baker has 5.5 tackles for loss this season.
- Redshirt senior running back Joshua Carter is a standout performer for EKU, leading with 183 carries for 922 yards and 11 touchdowns this year. Carter averages 5.0 yards per carry, ranking 20th in the FCS and fourth in the UAC for rushing yards.
UP NEXT
Austin Peay’s final game of the three consecutive home games will be against Chattanooga, a rematch of last year’s FCS Playoff first-round encounter, scheduled for 1 p.m. on November 16 in Clarksville. This Week 12 matchup will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
For ongoing updates and news throughout the 2024 season, follow the Governors football team on X (@GovsFB) and Instagram (@GovsFootball), or stay tuned at LetsGoPeay.com.
How does Coach Faris prepare the team mentally for a rivalry game against Eastern Kentucky?
**Interview with Austin Peay State University Head Football Coach Jeff Faris**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Coach Faris. This Saturday marks a big game for Austin Peay as you face Eastern Kentucky. How is the team feeling heading into this match?
**Jeff Faris:** Thanks for having me! The team is excited and focused. We know how important this game is, not just for our standings but also for our rivalry with Eastern Kentucky. We’re eager to bounce back from our close loss to Abilene Christian and build on the momentum from our last few games.
**Editor:** You mentioned the rivalry; historically, it’s been quite competitive. Austin Peay has actually performed well against Eastern Kentucky lately, winning four of the last six encounters. How do you think that affects your players’ mindset?
**Jeff Faris:** The players understand the significance of the rivalry, and the recent success gives them confidence. We talk about respecting our opponents but also about knowing our capabilities. They believe in each other, and that’s crucial as we aim for our third consecutive win against the Colonels.
**Editor:** Your last game had some standout performances from players like Jaden Barnes and Austin Smith. How crucial are they to your game plan this week?
**Jeff Faris:** They are vital. Jaden has been exceptional, and Austin’s ability to move the ball downfield is something we’ve built our offense around. We’re counting on them to perform at that high level again, especially as we look to exploit Eastern Kentucky’s defensive weaknesses.
**Editor:** With Clarksville’s Kicks Cancer Day event happening this Saturday, how important is it for your team and the community to show support for cancer initiatives?
**Jeff Faris:** It’s incredibly important. We love being a part of the community, and supporting such a critical cause as cancer research and awareness is essential. It brings us together, and we hope our success on the field can uplift spirits and contribute to the awareness needed to fund these initiatives.
**Editor:** This game is also particularly historic for Austin Peay regarding wins against Eastern Kentucky. If you secure the victory, it would mean more wins against them since 2017 than in the first 57 years of the rivalry. What does that potential milestone mean to you and the program?
**Jeff Faris:** It symbolizes growth and progress for our program. Building on past victories and shifting the narrative is what we’re striving for. It would be a significant milestone and a testament to the hard work our players and coaching staff have put into this season.
**Editor:** What would you say are the keys to victory against Eastern Kentucky this Saturday?
**Jeff Faris:** First, we need to establish the run game early on; La’Vell Wright has been integral for us. Second, our defense has to maintain pressure and create turnovers, which they’ve done well this season. we need to stay disciplined and play with intensity from the first whistle to the last.
**Editor:** Thank you, Coach Faris. Best of luck this Saturday against Eastern Kentucky.
**Jeff Faris:** Thank you! We appreciate the support and hope to see a great turnout at Fortera Stadium. Go Govs!
