Fourth quarter comeback just misses as Tech falls at Austin Peay, 31-28
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech ralied from 17 points down
in the final three minutes to have a chance to go to overtime, but
Justin Kraemer's 32-yard field goal try on the final play of the
game missed to the right and Austin Peay escaped with a 31-28
Homecoming victory.
Lee Sweeney passed for 324 yards and drove Tech to two touchdowns
in the final 3:13, and the Golden Eagles recovered Kraemer's
onsides kick with 1:33 to go and moved all the way down to the APSU
15.
The Golden Eagles (3-6/1-4 OVC) fell behind 21-0 in the first half,
and trailed 31-17 in the fourth quarter after Darryl Miller caught
his third touchdown pass of the game for the Governors (1-7/1-4
OVC).
After three quarters, Tech not only trailed on the scoreboard but
also in the game's statistics as APSU had more than 437 yards of
offense and Tech had 231.
But the Golden Eagles dominated the final period, holding Austin
Peay to 43 yards in the final 15 minutes and mounted an improbable
comeback.
It started slowly, as Tech moved 56 yards to the Austin Peay 24 on
the first possession of the fourth quarter but turned the ball over
on downs.
Tech's defense held and the Govs punted into the TTU end zone,
putting Sweeney & Co. in motion at their own 20. The Golden
Eagles drove 80 yards in 11 plays, with Wilkerson plowing in from
one yard for the touchdown with 3:13 remaining. Kraemer's kick made
it 31-21.
An onsides kick attempt failed, but the Govs lost the ball on a
fumble on the first play when Dwight Evans knocked the ball loose
and Taron Ryce recovered at the TTU 32.
Sweeney connected on four straight passes, including a 26-yard
pickup to Colin Allen to the APSU 21. A couple plays later, Sweeney
hit Bendford over the middle and the freshman danced his way
through defenders before diving into the end zone with 1:33
remaining. Another kick by Kraemer made it 31-28.
This time, the Golden Eagles recovered the onsides kick at their
own 40 and Sweeney started things with a 10-yard completion to
Benford. The Govs were called twice for pass interference, and Tech
moved to the APSU 20. A five-yard pass to Henry Sailes moved the
ball to the 15, but Tech had to down the ball to stop the clock
with 10 seconds remaining.
Tech had 213 yards of total offense in the final period, and
finished the game with 444 yards of offense and 22 first downs.
APSU had 480 yards and 22 first downs.
Sweeney was 25-for-42 for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Benford
was one catch short of a school record, finishing the game with 10
catches for 123 yards and two scores. Henry Sailes had four catches
for 101 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown in the second quarter
for the Golden Eagles' first score. Sailes also rushed five times
for 76 yards, and finished the game with 177 all-purpose yards on
nine plays.
For APSU, Ryan White had 22 carries for 185 yards as the Govs
rushed for 263 yards. Miller had three catches - all touchdowns -
for 110 yards.
Maurice Smith led the Tech defense with 14 tackles, including three
tackles-for-loss, while Corey Reed had 10 tackles.
Tech faces Tennessee State next Saturday (Nov. 1) in LP Field in
Nashville, with kickoff at 5 p.m.
Watson Brown post-game quote:
"We got ourselves a great chance to win the game, and we didn't do
it. We took care of the ball much better tonight. These guys don't
quit, they haven't quit all year. We made every single play that
you've got to make, until the last play of the game."
Pre-game notes
Seniors Xavier Purdy and John Ross Hudson represented Tech at
mid-field for the coin-toss. Austin Peay won the toss, and deferred
its decision to the second half.
Tonight's game is the first time Tech has played at Austin Peay
since 1997.
APSU is celebrating its homecoming tonight against Tennessee
Tech.
First quarter notes
After a 45-yard kickoff return by Tech's Tremain Hudson to open
the game, the Golden Eagles were faced with two fourth downs on
their opening drive. Tech was able to convert the first, on
fourth-and-one from the APSU 31 yard-line, but couldn't complete a
pass on the second fourth-and-one from the 9.
On the ensuing drive, APSU capped a 91-yard drive with a 75-yard
touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead.
Second quarter notes
On APSU's second touchdown, Tech blocked the PAT, making the score
13-0. It was the second PAT Tech has blocked this year, after the
Golden Eagles blocked one at Louisville.
APSU kept a drive alive after converting on a fourth-and-one from
Tech's 18 yard-line, and capped the drive with a touchdown. The
Gov's were successful on a two-point conversion, making the score
21-0.
Before halftime, Tech got on the scoreboard with a touchdown pass
from Lee Sweeney to Tim Benford, pulling within 21-7.
Third quarter notes
After an APSU field goal made the score 24-7, Henry Sailes took a
Sweeney pass 78 yards to the house, to pull Tech within 10,
24-14.
APSU's Darryl Miller caught his third touchdown pass of the night,
putting the Gov's up 31-14 late in the third quarter.
Fourth quarter notes
After an APSU punt into the end zone gave Tech the ball at their
own 20 yard-line, a personal foul against APSU after a long Tech
pass gave the Golden Eagles the ball at the Governor 24. Tech was
unable to convert on fourth down later in the drive.
The Golden Eagles punched in a touchdown with over three minutes
to play to pull within 31-21, and one play after a failed onside
kick attempt, Tech recovered a fumble in their own territory. Tech
quickly marched 84 yard on seven plays in a minute 29 seconds, to
make it a 31-28 game with 1:33 to play.
Tech recovered the ensuing onside kick with 1:33 and two timeouts
left. The Golden Eagles were able to drive the ball into APSU
territory before missing a potential game-tying field goal as time
expired.
