The Austin Peay State University football team proved two things on Saturday: it can go toe-to-toe with one of the elite teams in the FCS in a hostile environment, and it will fight until the final whistle blows.
Against Jacksonville State – a team that hasn’t lost an Ohio Valley Conference game since 2013 – the Governors came out unafraid and unabashed, taking a 9-0 lead after the first quarter.
When the Gamecocks found some momentum of their own, the Govs answered back punch-for-punch, keeping the game within two points at the half and the end of the third quarter. When pushed to respond, the Govs did so time and again.
And with a little more than a minute left in the fourth quarter, the Govs did not lay down. Jeremiah Oatsvall found Tre Nation, who gave absolutely everything he had, tiptoeing the sideline, powering through tackles and sprinting into the end zone for a 75-yard score.
Staring down the top rushing defense in the OVC and the fourth-ranked unit in the nation – a group that had allowed just 57 yards per game on the ground entering the game – the Govs imposed their will, blowing by that mark with 76 rushing yards in the first quarter alone.
Head coach Will Healy was certainly proud of the effort, but is going to focus on cutting down on the negative plays that can change the outcome of a game.
“I thought we looked like a totally different team than we did a week ago,” Healy said. “I’m proud of our kids. We have a lot of fighters in that room, and I hurt for them and those coaches as much as I hurt for anybody. The thing we have to do in this league to give ourselves a shot is we have to play disciplined football. There were times when we did and times where we didn’t.”
That attention to detail will begin in practice this week as the Govs begin preparations for the remaining six conference games on the schedule. They can still make a statement, and this critical stretch will continue to be a test.
After being on the road for the past three weekends, it will be a welcomed reprieve for the team to finish up the latter part of the season with four of its final six games at the friendly confines of Fortera Stadium.
But the team has to maintain its intensity and its focus.
Up next is Tennessee State in this week’s OVC Game of the Week on ESPN3. The Tigers travelled to Vanderbilt, Saturday, and gave the Commodores everything they could handle. The Tigers took an early lead, and trailing late, drove almost all the way down the field, but came up short, 31-27, in a tremendous showing.
In addition to being the OVC Game of the Week, Saturday’s contest is also Family Weekend at Fortera Stadium, and it is an opportunity for the Govs to get back into the Sgt. York Trophy race, as it is the second matchup of the season to determine this year’s winner.
Oatsvall, who threw for career highs in yardage (245) and touchdowns (4) against Jacksonville State, echoed his head coach’s sentiments. Though they will face tough conference tests, he is confident the Govs can compete with any team in the country after hanging with the Gamecocks Saturday night.
“I think it shows that we are at their caliber,” Oatsvall said. “I think we’re as talented as they are. They made some plays (Saturday) night, and we left some out on the field.
“I think we can take away that if we just do what we’re supposed to do, and work hard during the week to fix the little things, we can hang with anybody.”
Courtesy of APSU Athletics