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Second-half surge boosts APSU over Mercer




Kentel Williams (5) prepares to meet a Central Arkansas defender. Williams scored two touchdowns in Saturday's win over Mercer. KEN HERNDON

Kentel Williams (5) prepares to meet a Central Arkansas defender. Williams scored two touchdowns in Saturday’s win over Mercer. KEN HERNDON

A shootout between the Mercer Bears and Austin Peay State Governors seemed imminent on Saturday night.

Scores in the game’s first three possessions confirmed that thought. Mercer had a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.   

But the scoring slowed down, and it was only 13-13 at halftime.   

Then the second half came, and the Govs exploded for 14 third-quarter points and 21 more in the fourth for a 48-34 victory over the Bears in Macon,Georgia.

Those Austin Peay points came without starting quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall, who was out after exiting last week’s game against Central Arkansas with an injury.

This week’s starter, JaVaughn Craig, was aided by his teammates and turned in a strong performance. He threw for 252 yards with one touchdown and rushed for 42 yards. 

His primary targets were Keenan Barnes (nine receptions, 105 yards) and DeAngelo Wilson (five receptions, 107 yards). Wide receiver Baniko Harley scored for the third straight week, this time on a five-yard reception in the third quarter.

 

 

The strong pass game was helped by strong running from Kentel Williams, who took 18 carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Prince Momodu scored the Govs’ final touchdown on a 22-yard run with four minutes left in the game.

Defensively, Kordel Jackson shined with a pair of pick-sixes. His first was a 29-yard return to put the Govs up by two touchdowns in the third quarter, and the second was a 69-yard return to give Austin Peay a three-score lead in the fourth quarter. 

The Govs wrapped up 10 tackles for loss, led by John Whiteside with 3.5. Whiteside also finished with 10 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

And the score could have been even more lopsided. The Governors committed a whopping 13 penalties for 155 yards – nearly half of Mercer’s 330 total yards – and gave new life to several drives that would have otherwise ended in Bear punts.

Those were the only downsides of the night, though, as Austin Peay did not commit a turnover, allow a sack or squander a red zone opportunity.

The Govs (2-1) will remain on the road to face East Tennessee State (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

 

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