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CLARKSVILLE, TENN.&8212 Austin Peay held on to knock off Tennessee Tech 38-31 Saturday at Governors Stadium.
Tennessee Tech recovered an onside kick and nearly rallied back from a 31-0 halftime deficit, but the Govs defense held strong on the final possession to seal APSUs first Ohio Valley Conference win in 14 league games. The Golden Eagles fumbled six times and lost 116 yards on penalties.
A trick play put the Govs on the board early, when Terrence Oliver took a pitch and ran to the right side on second down and six. But instead of going upfield, he stopped and lateraled it back to Ryan, who found Jamaar Embry near the front of the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown pass.
That was the first big play of an impressive game for Ryan, who completed 27-of-38 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns, making him the first Gov to reach that mark since 2008. That included a crucial fourth down conversion on a 14 play, 80 yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown run by Ean Pemberton late in the first quarter.
The dimunitive running back who didnt see the field last week at Jacksonville has 39 yards on six carries. Redshirt freshman Reco Williams has added 71 rushing yards and also caught five passes for 24 yards.
The Govs offense put together another sustained drive early in the second quarter,外汇 finally scoring on a two-yard touchdown pass caught by Stark in the left corner of the end zone. The senior from Memphis would fight off a cornerback to make another touchdown catch with less than a minute to go in the half to move into third place on the Austin Peay all-time list.
Meanwhile, the Austin Peay defense forced a three and out on TTUs first possession before the Golden Eagles drove nearly the length of the field before Zach Sharp missed a 26-yard field goal wide right. Tennessee Tech also survived a miscue on the opening kickoff, when Austin Peays Adam Noble recovered a fumble only to watch Terrence Oliver fumble the ball back to TTU two plays later.
Quarterback Darian Stone couldnt get much going early against the Govs unusually sure-tackling secondary. He had just 113 passing yards, including 68 in the third quarter, and Stone has been under pressure all day from the APSU pass rush.
But a big fourth quarter helped Stone finish with 245 yards and two touchdowns, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to Neil Gannaway to cut the lead to 38-28 midway through the final quarter. TTU was held to a field goal on its next drive, and the Golden Eagles final pass fell incomplete on 4th and 32 with 1:17 left.
TTUs DaRick Rogers had six catches for 48 yards, and the former UT standout failed to catch multiple deep passes with Govs defenders with him strid for stride.
Doug Page capped off an 11 play, 71 yard drive to open the second half with a one-yard touchdown run, but a fumble by Stone recovered by Govs safety Johnathon Shuler at the Golden Eagles 23 put a huge dent in their rally. Ryan immediately threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Stark, who went up over two defenders and got one foot inbounds near the front corner of the end zone.
Freshman running back Ladarius Vanlier found some room to run and reeled off a 36-yard reception to set up a six-yard touchdown pass to Rogers. Vanlier had 84 rushing yards and 77 receiving yards, 美容 while Stone rushed for 102 yards on 22 carries.
Luke Thompson, Austin Peay beat writer 931-245-0221lukethompsontheleafchronicle.comTwitter: lc_luket

Austin Peay held on to knock off Tennessee Tech 38-31 Saturday at Governors Stadium.
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