The Bucs football team hosted Austin Peay on Saturday. In a tight contest, the Bucs held on to win a close one over the Governors 20-14.
The Bucs’ record now stands at 2-2.
Austin Peay opened the game with an impact. Their first possession consisted of five plays, driving down the field for 90 yards. Quarterback Javaugh Craig connected with Deangelo Wilson for a 54-yard pass to put the Governors up 7-0.
The next drive saw the Bucs try to answer the quick score. The Bucs were on the ground the first few plays of the drive. Sophomore running back Jacob Saylors (Jasper, Tennessee) had plenty of room to move with the offensive line making good blocks.
However, the Governors held the Bucs from getting inside the red zone. The Bucs continued and gained three points on the board when freshman kicker Tyler Keltner (Tallahassee, Florida) kicked a career long 48-yard field goal, making the score 7-3.
The Bucs grabbed the lead in the final five minutes of the first half with a long drive. A holding penalty pushed the Bucs back far, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Trey Mitchell (Knoxville, Tennessee) ran the ball for 22-yard to continue the drive.
Mitchell later connected with redshirt freshman Cameron Lewis (McDonough, Georgia) for a 21-yard gain, putting the Bucs in the red zone. The Bucs capped off the 12-play and 73-yard drive with a one-yard run by junior running back Malik McGue (Johnson City, Tennessee).
The Governors answered quickly the following drive, going 75 yards in just 10 plays and capping it off with a one-yard run by Kentel Williams, giving Austin Peay the lead at 14-10 before closing the half.
The scoreboard didn’t change until seven minutes remained in the final quarter. The Bucs built a good drive in the fourth going 58-yards in 12 plays. Red shirt sophomore running back Quay Holmes (Power Springs, Georgia) charged through the Governors’ defense on several plays before landing in the end zone for a two-yard run score to give the Bucs possession of the lead again at 17-14.
“It’s our job to create momentum and sustain it,” said head coach Randy Sanders, regarding the Bucs’ scoring drive.
The next possession, the Bucs’ defense applied pressure on the quarterback and forced an interception by sophomore defensive back MJ Woods (Seale, Alabama), recording the Bucs’ first pick of the season.
The Bucs took the turnover and turned it into three points with a Keltner 37-yard kick.
An interception by redshirt senior defensive back Artevius Smith (Birmingham, Alabama) sealed the deal for the Bucs.
The next seven games for the Bucs are conference matchups.
The Bucs travel to Greenville, South Carolina, on Sept. 28 to take on conference rival Furman.
