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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – In a battle for second place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings and a possible at-large berth in the FCS playoffs, Austin Peay beat Eastern Illinois 28-13, on a cold and windy Saturday evening at Fortera Stadium.
EIU ends the regular season at 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the OVC. It marks the third straight season EIU has posted a winning season as 21 seniors played their final collegiate game for the Panthers.
APSU improved to 8-4 overall, 7-1 in the OVC posting the school's best season since the late 1970's. It was only the second time APSU has beaten EIU during the NCAA Division I era.
Austin Peay had a long drive to open the game with the Governors extending the drive on a fake punt on fourth down. EIU would make a stop on fourth down and then start a long drive of its own.
Gunnar Scholato forced a fumble on the EIU drive that was recovered by the Governors. Ahmaad Tanner put APSU on the board with 11 seconds left in the first quarter on a 22-yard run. APSU rushed for 184 yards in the first half finishing the game with 325 yards on the ground. Tanner rushed for 90 yards.
EIU quickly answered the first APSU score as
Alexander Hollins took an end reverse 55 yards to put the ball inside the 10-yard line.Â
Isaiah Johnson, a Clarksville native, scored on a 1-yard run. EIU would miss the extra point to trail 7-6 with 14:01 to play in the first half. Johnson rushed for 107 yards.
???????Kyran Moore pushed Austin Peay's lead to 14-6 with a 10-yard touchdown run at 9:13 of the second quarter.  APSU would hold the ball for 20 minutes of the first half compared to just ten minutes for the Panthers. The Governors finished with 40:24 in time of possession.
Austin Peay was able to take advantage of two plays to score its first two second half touchdowns. Following a short punt by EIU, Jeremiah Oatsvall had a 26-yard run with 6:03 to play in the third quarter. On the next EIU drive, Juantarius Bryant intercepted a pass that the Governors turned into a 1-yard Tanner run putting APSU up 28-6 with 14:54 to play.
EIU added a late fourth quarter touchdown with
Bud Martin hitting
Andre Harris for a 19-yard touchdown with 2:52 left in the game.Â
Nick Horne had a team high 11 tackles for the Panthers.
???????Scholato had a team high eight tackles for the Governors.Â
