Clarksville Times

Beating your rival in college football is something you celebrate. Winning back-to-back games against your rival gets you remembered. Winning six-straight games against your rival, now that's something special.

Austin Peay picked up its sixth-straight win against Murray State, Saturday, and there is no player, on either side, that has ever experienced an outcome different than a Governors win in the rivalry. But the Govs haven't just beat the Racers, they have dominated, winning the six games by an average of 26.5 points per game. 

Since it's the Govs' longest winning streak in series history and it hasn't been particularly close in five of the games, we are going to take a look back at the six-straight over the Racers, starting with the 2017 win…

The Governors have been particularly dominant on the road during the winning streak, holding the Racers to just a single touchdown and winning by an average score of 38.7-6.6 during the three games in Calloway County, Kentucky. The success north of the border started at the same time as the winning streak, with a 27-7 win on Sept. 23, 2017. A Kyran Moore touchdown run and a JaVaughn Craig touchdown pass to Kentel Williams paired with two Logan Birchfield field goals to give the Govs a 20-0 lead. After Murray State's lone score, Craig punched in a three-yard touchdown to secure the win and the start of the winning streak. 

Moving along to Nov. 17, 2018. A 14-yard touchdown run from Prince Momodu was followed by Jeremiah Oatsvall touchdown passes to DeAngelo Wilson and DJ Montgomery to give the Govs a 21-10 lead at Fortera Stadium. The Racers made it a five-point game at 28-23, but a 46-yard touchdown run from Kentel Williams, another touchdown pass to Montgomery, and a 71-yard pick-six for Trent Taylor sealed a 48-23 win and Austin Peay's first win at home during the streak. 

Back at Roy Stewart Stadium and well on their way to an Ohio Valley Conference title, the Governors throttled the Racers, 42-7, on Nov. 16, 2019. Momodu ran for a pair of touchdowns and Wilson caught two scores from Craig to build a 28-7 lead. An Ahmaad Tanner touchdown run and a Kordell Jackson scoop-and-score sealed the 35-point rout of the Racers.

Fast forward to Scotty Walden's first game against the Racers, April 3, 2021, and the only close game during the Governors' winning streak. Draylen Ellis threw touchdowns to Eugene Minter and CJ Evans Jr. and then Ellis and Ahmaad Tanner both ran for scores, however, the game was tied 31-31 with two seconds left to play. No worries, Austin Peay kicker Grant Paulette capped off a 17-play, 80-yard drive that took up the final 5:31 of the contest with a 22-yard game-winning field goal. Govs win, 34-31, down goes No. 13 Murray State. Make it four-straight.

The largest margin of victory and the largest since 1966 came later in 2021 in Calloway County. The Governors dismantled the Racers behind a 134-yard, three-rushing touchdown performance from Ahmaad Tanner and a 133-yard, two-rushing touchdown day from Brian Snead. Throw in Sheldon Layman touchdown passes to Drae McCray and Baniko Harley plus four forced turnovers and the Govs win by 41 on Murray's turf. 

Now the most recent chapter in the rivalry and another blowout win for the Governors. Mike DiLiello throws for 309 yards and three touchdowns and he adds a rushing touchdown. Evans Jr. adds two more scores on the ground. McCray and James Burns rack up 166 and 117 receiving yards, respectively, with two scores for McCray and one for Burns. Oh, and then there is the 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Kam Thomas and the 10-tackle days from Antoine Williams and Darryl Rogan – Williams also added four tackles for loss. It was the second-most points the Govs have ever scored against the team from up north, final score, 52-17.

So that's how you put together the longest winning streak in program history against your rival. Six in a row and nearly always in dominant fashion. Walden has only been the coach at Austin Peay for two years, but he has played the Racers three times and he understands the importance of the rivalry… 

"I'll tell you this, every time we play Murray, leading up to it, the fans on both sides are like tenacious and that's been really cool," said Walden. "We did Operation Honor on Wednesday and got to serve about 1,500 military families right here at Fortera Stadium in our parking lot. We got done with practice, our players ran out there, our coaches ran out there, and obviously other athletics teams; our whole school was helping with it. And I made it from the front door of Fortera to the like just in the parking lot and I had people like 'hey coach, beat that team up north' and 'we don't lose to Murray, coach.'

"I'm like golly man, add the pressure on baby. Okay, like I get it, I get it. We got to beat them; I get it… In terms of leading up to it, you can feel that fuel, man, you can feel that fuel just being all over it. I mean, I got fans and people telling me, 'Make sure you're not spelling their name coach, make sure you're putting the asterisk in there' and I'm like okay we got it, like jeez. But it's cool. That's what you love about college football, man."

So that's that. 56 chapters of Austin Peay and Murray State football are in the books, and despite the Racers still holding the overall edge in the series, the Governors have owned the last six meetings. 

The rivalry is far from over, but for now, the Govs turn their attention towards the final four games in their first season in the ASUN Conference. At 5-2 overall and 1-1 in league play, the Govs are set to host another old rival when Jacksonville State comes to Fortera Stadium for a 3 p.m., Oct. 29 ASUN showdown. The Gamecocks – who are ineligible for the ASUN title because they are headed to the FBS and Conference USA next season – are the next team in between the Governors and a chance at the Inaugural ASUN Conference title. 

It's also the final regular-season home game for Austin Peay, so if you've missed out so far this season, don't miss your last chance to support the Govs and pack "The Fort." Tickets are on sale right now. Call the APSU Ticket Office at 931-221-PEAY (7329) or buy them online at LetsGoPeay.com/buytickets.

But first, it's "Opportunity Week II." A week to get better and be ready for the Gamecocks. So, take the bye week and we'll see you back at Fortera Stadium in a dozen days, where Walden and the Govs will look to improve to 4-0 when coming off a bye week. Let's Go Peay.

Original source can be found here