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Box Score  

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay won its first Ohio Valley Conference title in more than 40 years as they beat Eastern Illinois, 35-7, on Saturday afternoon to end the Panthers first season under head coach Adam Cushing.

EIU was 1-11 on the season, 1-7 in the OVC.  APSU, ranked No. 19, improved to 9-3 overall, 7-1 in the OVC as the Governors will now be making their first-ever FCS playoff appearance.

Austin Peay jumped on the board in the first quarter with JaVaughn Craig hitting Baniko Harley for a 13-yard strike with 4:51 to play in the quarter.

EIU would knot the score at 7-7 early in the second quarter as Darshon McCullough found a seam and rushed 47 yards to tie the game with 14:52 to play in the first half.  McCullough would finish with 110 yards on the ground.

The McCullough touchdown was set up by a JJ Ross interception in the end zone, one of two interceptions on the day by the freshman corner as he added four tackles.

Craig would drive the Governors for two more first half scores as the quarterback had rushing touchdowns of five yards and 19 yards to give APSU a 21-7 lead at the half.  Craig ended the day passing for 235 yards  and rushing for 57 yards.

Craig would connect with Harley one more time in the third quarter to put the Governors up 28-7 with 6:24 left in the game.  Harley had six catches for 136 yards as the top APSU offensive target.    DeAngelo Wilson caught a 40-yard pass from Craig for the final Governors score.

EIU had one final drive deep into APSU territory as James Sheehan, playing quarterback, drove the Panthers inside the ten yard line.  EIU was unable to push the ball in as APSU made a late goal line stand.  EIU had four different players take snaps from center on the day as the Jaylon Banks was the only player listed as a quarterback to play the position in the game. 

Senior linebacker Joe Caputo led the Panthers with eight tackles while Jason Johnson added seven stops for EIU.

Pat Walker had 11 tackles to lead Austin Peay.