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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Austin Peay defensive back Justin Vanatta stripped away the ball from Eastern Illinois running back Travorus Bess as he was breaking away for a game winning touchdown with 35 seconds remaining as the Governors recovered the ball for a 15-13 win over the Panthers.
In a game dominated by turnovers and special teams play the Governors improved to 2-8, 2-5 in the OVC as they beat EIU for the first time since 1959. Eastern Illinois fell to 4-7 on the year, 2-5 in the OVC. EIU wraps up the season next Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. kick off at Tennessee Tech.
John Bell scored the first points of the game for Austin Peay as he drilled a 33-yard field goal with 5:34 to go in the first quarter. Bell would miss his next two attempts with Pierre Walters blocking a 35-yard attempt late in the second quarter and Bell sailing a 32-yard attempt wide left in third. Those misses would factor into some conversion decisions later in the contest.
Eastern Illinois the built a 10-3 halftime lead as Chevon Walker scored on a 20-yard run in the first quarter after the Panthers started the drive at the APSU 31 following a big return by freshman Shawn Williams. Tyler Wilke would knock home a 21-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter after EIU gained the ball on a Ryan White fumble caused by Nick Nasti and recovered by Andre Lima.
Austin Peay closed to within 10-9 with 7:24 left in the game as Jay Courtney blocked a Kevin Cook punt and Ricky Thomas picked the ball up at the EIU 17 yard line and scored. The Governors opted to go for a two-point conversion which was intercepted by Shelton Penrow. It was the first time EIU has had a punt blocked since Oct. 29, 2005 against UT Martin.
The Panthers extended their lead to 13-9 with 4:12 to go in the third quarter as Wilke connected on a 36-yard field goal. EIU had gained the ball on a Trent Caffee fumble recovered by Walters.
The Governors took their final lead of the game with 8:17 left in the game as Ryan White broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown. APSU again opted for a two-point conversion but Terrance Holt was bottled up by a host of EIU defenders giving APSU only a 15-13 lead.
EIU started its potential game winning drive with 2:38 left on the clock. Bodie Reeder connected on six straight passes to move the Panthers to the APSU 19 yard line with 45 seconds left. EIU then ran a draw with Bess who found a seam and had a clear shot at the end zone before Vanatta hit him from behind forcing the fumble which was recovered by Tremayne Townsend.
EIU gained only 253 yards on offense while Austin Peay had 340. White accounted for a majority of the Governors offense with 124 yards rushing. Bess had 74 to lead EIU. Reeder was 14-of-21 for 107 yards while Caffee was 12-of-23 for 164 yards.
Walters was a standout on defense making 8 tackles with two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss for 49 yards. He also had one blocked punt and one fumble recovery. Walters moved into third place on the career tackles for loss list passing former NFL veteran John Jurkovic.
