Golden Eagle defense gets shutout, ground game keys 34-0 OVC victory
A punishing ground game and a swarming defense were keys to Tennessee Tech devouring Austin Peay, 34-0, Saturday afternoon in Tucker Stadium to send the 12 Golden Eagle seniors out on a winning note in the season finale.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
7 | 0 | 13 | 14 | 34 |
Team Stats
Austin Peay
| Game Statistics | Austin Peay | Tennessee Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 72 | 118 |
| Rushing Yards | 114 | 284 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of Poss. | 29:29 | 30:31 |
By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports
Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- A punishing ground game and a swarming
defense were keys to Tennessee Tech devouring Austin Peay, 34-0,
Saturday afternoon in Tucker Stadium to send the 12 Golden Eagle
seniors out on a winning note in the season finale.
Tech (5-7/2-6 OVC) closed out the 2013 season with back-to-back
wins, while the Governors (0-12/0-8 OVC) wrapped up a winless
campaign.
Junior quarterback Darian Stone rushed for 153 yards to top a
ground attack that piled up 284 yards and all five Golden Eagle
touchdowns. Cody Forbes added 64 yards while Stephen Bush finished
with 59 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
In addition to 118 passing yards on Stone's 9-for-15 effort, the
Golden Eagles managed 402 yards of offense. Tech put together three
six-minute scoring drives.
The Golden Eagles scored on all four of their possessions in the
second half except for a kneel-down on the final play.
The Tech defense, meanwhile, limited Austin Peay to 86 total yards
including just 72 through the air. The "D" had 11 tackles-for-loss,
led by senior Malcolm Mitchell with three including his team-best
ninth quarterback sack of the year. Tra'Darius Goff had two TFL and
five tackles, finishing the year with 101 total tackles to rank
first in the OVC. Marty Jones was one of three Golden Eagles with a
team-high seven tackles, and finished with 98 tackles for second in
the league.
As convincing as the final score appears, it wasn't decided until
the second half after the Golden Eagles took a slim, 7-0 lead into
halftime. That came on a six-minute, 80-yard drive on Tech's first
possession of the contest and ended with a one-yard push by
Bush.
Tech took control in the third quarter with a couple of
touchdowns. Stone led the Golden Eagles on the opening possession
of the second half on a 61-yard, five-play drive that was capped
when Bush split the line and raced untouched 42 yards for a 14-0
lead.
APSU marched 45 yards on 11 plays into Tech territory, before
Jones and Jimmy Laughlin stopped the Governor receiver short on
fourth down play. From there, Tech went 66 yards in 14 plays, with
Bush pounding it in from the one for a 20-0 lead. The drive chewed
up 6:19 off the clock.
Early in the fourth, a 45-yard screen pass to Forbes set up Tech's
next score, a nine-yard run by Stone for a 27-0 lead. It was the
final pass of the day for the Golden Eagles. The final possession
featured 11 consecutive running plays, including eight by Forbes,
as Tech moved 71 yards in 11 plays on a six-and-a-half minute
touchdown drive for the 34-0 lead. Stone had a 31-yard carry in the
effort, while Forbes crossed the goal line from the two.
PREGAME NOTES
* It's Military and Public Safety Appreciation Day in
Tucker Stadium, and the Golden Eagles will don a new, camouflage
-style uniform in honor of U.S. military personnel. It's also Scout
Day.
* Temperature is expected to be about 46 degrees in Cookeville at
kickoff, under mostly cloud skies. SLight breeze from the
north, but a decent day for football.
* Tech leads the all-time series against Austin Peay, 28-18-1,
after the Govs downed the Golden Eagles, 38-31, last season in
Clarksville. The teams are 3-3 since the Govs returned to the OVC
in football in 2007.
* Tech will bid farewell to 12 seniors in pregame ceremonies on
the field, a group that ranges from A (Adams) to Z (Ziegler and
Zinchini). The dozen who depart are Blake Adams, Bud Golden,
Jordan
Johnson, Jerry King, Cory
McDonald, Seth McDonald,
Malcolm
Mitchell. Lamar Moore, James
Normand, Wesley Sherrill,
Zach Ziegler and Chad
Zinchini.
* Quarterback Darian Stone is
averaging 117 rushing yards per game in his five contests in
November during his career. He has rushed for 1,003 career
yards.
* Senior James Normand ends his career by making his 36th career
start in the offensive line. Wesley Sherrill also makes his 36th
career start, but not consecutively.
* James Normand is the lone game captain attending the coin toss.
Tech wins the toss and defers, and will kick off to start the
game.
FIRST QUARTER NOTES
* First-and-15 for the Govs and Jordan Johnson busts through and
makes the tackle for a three-yard loss. Now third-and-10, and Terrell
Rollins and Jimmy Laughlin
combine for a sack to force a punt. Fair catch by Ladarius
Vanlier and the Golden Eagles take over at their own 20.
* Middle screen to Vanlier goes for 22 yards and a first down at
the Tech 47. Darian Stone breaks tackles and picks up 25 yards to
the APSU 33. Another first down as Stone breaks through up the
middle to the 22. Stone sacked to the 25, bringing up third-and-13.
Pass to Krys
Cates and he's out of bounds close to the first down. Time out
for measurement....FIRST DOWN, Golden Eagles at the 12. Stephen Bush
behind a block by Randall Reeves
for three. Offsides penalty on Govs, and it's at the five. Another
offsides penalty, takes it to the three. Second and inches. Bush
gets the first down at the one. Bush for the touchdown! Harris PAT
and it's 7-0. Frive took 6:16 and covered 80 yards in 13 plays.
* Laughlin hits quarterback Andrew Spivey as he throws,
incomplete, and APSU is forced to punt after three-and-out. Ball is
downed at the Tech 30 with 1:11 to go in the first. Tech goes
three-and-out, so Chad Zinchini punts. Crushes one 60 yards, and
out of bounds at the APSU 15.
* Midoho Okpokuwuruk and Blake Adams combine to stop Omar Williams
for a one-yard loss on the final play of the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER NOTES
* Laughlin knocks down a pass, and it's third-and-11 at the Gov
14. False start on APSU, backing the Govs the nine. Third-and-16.
Incomplete. Govs to punt. Eric Belew barely
misses the block in the end zone, and the punt is downed at the
Tech 38 for a 53-yard kick. Offense takes over with 14:39 to play
in the half.
* Quarterback draw doesn't work, so Zinchini will punt into a
stiff breeze from the Tech 38. Fair catch at the APSU 26 for a
36-yard punt.
* Govs offense picks up a first down, but on third-and two from
the APSU 40, Marty Jones and
Kevin
Robinson-White stop Williams short of the first down.
Fourth-and-one, and Govs line up to go for it. Timeout, ad they
will go for it. NOT A CHANCE! Tra'Darius
Goff meets Williams head-on in the backfield for a three-yard
loss and ball goes to the Golden Eagles at the APSU 43.
* Zinchini punts and the Golden Eagles down it inside the APSU
one-yard line.
* Governors showing a ground game, notching three first downs out
to their own 40, drive going 39 yards so far. That's the end of the
line, though, as two straight passes go incomplete. Ben Campbell
punts and Vanlier catches it at the Tech 18. He breaks one tackle,
but fumbles where Josh Smith recovers for
Tech at the 15.
* Cates grabs a pass and is flipped through the air dramatically
for the tackle at the APSU 34, bringing up fourth down for the
Golden Eagles. Golden Eagles hurry to line up, but APSU calls time
out. Ball at the 34 with 37 seconds to play. Play resumes and
Stone's bullet is batted down, turning the ball over on downs with
33 seconds.
* Clocks runs out and it's halftime.
THIRD QUARTER NOTES
* Kickoff is short and Dametris Watson
returns to the Tech 39. Stone goes for a first down on a
quarterback draw and Golden Eagles into APSU territory,
* Third-and-3 at the 42, and Bush breaks loose, racing untouched
for a touchdown. Harris kick makes it 14-0. The scoring drive was
five plays and 61 yards, taking 1:53.
* Second consecutive game for Bush to score two rushing
touchdowns.
* Fourth-and-four and Austin Tallant
breaks up a pass attempt. Campbell in to punt....and it's a fake.
He goes for a 19-yard pickup and a first down at the Tech 41.
* Fourth-and-seven, and Spivey completes a pass but Marty Jones
and Laughlin stop the receiver short of the first down. Tech takes
over at the Golden Eagle 34.
* Stone is loose, tripped up for a 20-yard gain. An ankle tackle
by A.J. Gray prevents a breakaway touchdown. Another first down
rush for Stone, and another. Golden Eagles first-and-10 at the APSU
13.
* Forbes dives into the end zone, but it's ruled that his knee is
down inside the one. First-and-goal. Stephen Bush follows Jibrin Linge and
Wesley Sherrill for his third touchdown of the game. PAT hits the
upright, so score is 20-0 with 1:13 to play in the third quarter.
Tech's TD drive took 14 plays to go 66 yards, and lasted 6:15.
* Hunter Branch stretches out for a catch and a first down, a
14-yard gain to the APSU 46, on the final play of the quarter. Tech
leads, 20-0.
FOURTH QUARTER NOTES
* Campbell punts, and Vanlier is hit while attempting to make the
catch for a penalty on the Govs. After 15-yard penatly, Tech takes
over at the TTU 36.
* Screen pass to Cody Forbes and
he takes it all the way to the APSU nine, a 45-yard gain.
* Darian Stone around left end for a nine-yard touchdown and a
27-0 lead after the PAT. Scoring drive of 79 yards took six plays
and 2:59.
* Stone has rushed for 122 yards on 22 carries. It's the fifth
time in his six career November games that he has topped 100
yards.
* Golden Eagle defense appears to be getting stronger. Hold for a
three-and-out and Campbell to punt. It's downed at the TTU 29 with
9:22 to play.
* It's Stone, again, Breaks through and goes for 31 yards to the
Gov 39. Fourth down...and a personal foul, unsportsmanlike penalty
on APSU gives Tech a first down at the 19.
* Cody Forbes scores from the two, and Tech leads 34-0.
* APSU into Tech territroy, facing fourth-and two at the 30 with
30 seconds left. Complete pass for first down and out of bounds at
the 25 with 21 seconds left.
* Cory McDonald blitzes, and bats down screen pass attempt with 17
seconds left.
* SACK. Malcolm Mitchell gets to QB Timarious Mitchell for loss of
10 yards. Timeout Govs with 10 seconds to play.
* Interception by Maleek Hall in the end
zone with two seconds left preserve the shutout.
