• ESPN3 Information and FAQ | Direct Link to Austin Peay/Jacksonville State Game
This week the OVC Football "Game of the Week" series on ESPN3 features Austin Peay at Jacksonville State. The game is slated to kick-off at 3:00 p.m. CT on Saturday.
This contest is the first of an exclusive eight-game package that will air on ESPN3 this season.
The games are being produced by Tupelo Raycom, a Raycom Media company that brings together Tupelo-Honey (founded 1996) and WebStream Sports (2006). With offices in New York, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Nashville and Los Angeles the company develops new programming and delivers live events, music specials and branded features for broadcast, digital and in-venue entertainment.
Kevin Ingram, host of "The Wake Up Zone" on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, will handle play-by-play duties while Bob Belvin, on-air talent and contributor at 104.1 FM/AM 540 (ESPN Clarksville), will provide analysis. The duo has worked together each of the past six years in the league's TV package.
ESPN3 is ESPN's live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually. It is accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices through the ESPN App. The network is currently available nationwide at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. It is also available at no cost to U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks.
GAME PREVIEW
Austin Peay Governors (2-2, 0-1 OVC)
at #8 Jacksonville State Gamecocks (2-1, 1-0 OVC)
Saturday, September 29 • 3:00 p.m. CT
Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium (24,000) • Jacksonville, Ala.
TV:...................................................................... ESPN3
Live Stats:
http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=227773
Series Record:................... Jacksonville State leads 19-6-3
Last Meeting:......... Jacksonville State won 34-14 (10/7/17)
Will Healy at Austin Peay:............................ 10-17 (3 yrs.)
Will Healy Overall:................................................... same
John Grass at Jacksonville State:................... 45-9 (5 yrs.)
John Grass Overall:................................................. same
Austin Peay Last Week:..................... L, 37-7 at UT Martin
Jacksonville State Last Week: W, 48-20 vs. Tennessee Tech
GAME NOTES: The OVC Game of the Week on ESPN3 package will be a matchup of the two teams who finished 1-2 in the OVC race a year ago and who were picked 1-2 in the preseason OVC poll. The teams have played 28 previous times with Jacksonville State holding a 19-6-3 all-time advantage, including winning all 11 meetings since APSU came back to the OVC after playing non-scholarship football (2007-present). The Gamecocks have scored at least 27 points in all 11 of those victories, including 34 points in each of the past two years. Jacksonville State enters this week with a 33-game OVC winning streak, the second-longest conference winning streak in FCS history. A year ago, the Gamecocks jumped out to a 20-7 halftime advantage and held Austin Peay to just 234 yards of total offense in the 34-14 victory. Roc Thomas rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns (out-rushing the APSU team by 29 yards) while quarterback Bryant Horn added 71 rushing yards and a rushing and passing touchdown. The APSU duo of JaVaughn Craig and Jeremiah Oatsvall combined for 128 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air. Saturday is the annual Homecoming game for JSU; the Gamecocks are 58-12-2 all-time on Homecoming.
SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY: After ranking 21st in the Coaches Poll last week (the team's highest-ever ranking) the Govs fell out of the Top 25 after its 37-7 loss to UT Martin. Late in the first quarter quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall scored on a 37-yard run to give the Govs a 7-6 lead; that marked Oatsvall's third-straight game with a rushing touchdown. But following that the Govs offense was stagnant, having only two drives over four plays for the remainder of the contest. APSU entered the game averaging over 300 rushing yards/game, but the team was limited to just 272 yards of total offense (and 162 yards rushing). Kentel Williams had a game-high 91 rushing yards and is now averaging 136.0 yards/game through his two games in 2018. The Govs defense picked off UTM quarterback Dresser Winn twice with Erskine Francis and Trent Taylor coming away with picks. Gunnar Scholato and Malik Davis each had 11 tackles to lead the defensive attack. Entering this week Austin Peay is 14th nationally in rushing offense (266.5 yards/game), as it will challenge the FCS's No. 4 ranked rushing defense.
SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE STATE: Jacksonville State, up to No. 8 in the FCS Coaches poll this week, ran its winning streak to two games with a 48-20 win over Tennessee Tech to open OVC play. The Gamecocks tallied 544 yards of total offense in the win and now rank seventh nationally in total offense (533.7 yards/game) and 10th in scoring offense (45.3 points/game). The team is also ranked third nationally in total defense (191.0 yards/game), making them the only FCS team ranked in the top seven in both total offense and total defense. Junior wide receiver Josh Pearson was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week after catching five passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns to increase his season total to five scores. The five receiving touchdowns is more than any JSU player had all of last season. The JSU rushing attack gained 302 total yards, with seven players tallying multiple carries. Jaelen Greene had a 65-yard touchdown run to lead the way. The JSU offense has had 10 scoring drives of less than three minutes this year. Quarterback Zerrick Cooper is 21st nationally in passing yards/completion (14.42) and 14th in passing efficiency (162.5). Senior Randy Robinson has two blocked kicks this year and five for his career (three away from the JSU record).