SATURDAY'S SCORES
#13 Cincinnati 55,
#13 Austin Peay 20
#13 CINCINNATI 55, AUSTIN PEAY 20
CINCINNATI - Running back CJ Evans broke off his second big touchdown run of the fall campaign and Austin Peay State University's football team put up double digits against No. 13 Cincinnati, falling 55-20, Saturday at Nippert Field.
Austin Peay State University's football team capitalized on a trio of long drives with a pair of field goals, but could not keep pace with a nationally-ranked Cincinnati offense that scored on its first four possessions and fell 42-13, Saturday, at Nippert Stadium.
Unlike the previous week, the Austin Peay (0-3) pieced together a trio of drives lasting more than 10 plays and scored on each of the drives. The Governors went 62 yards in 14 plays on their first drive, with kicker Grant Paullette hitting a 30-yard field goal. On its opening drive of the second half, Austin Peay used 15 plays to cover 63 yards and setup Paulette's second field goal – this one a 29-yarder.
But a fourth-quarter drive showed the promise of an upcoming spring slate as quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall and wide receiver Baniko Harley connected twice for big plays to covert third-down opportunities. A 16-yard completion was followed by a 49-yarder to get the Govs deep in Cincinnati territory. From there CJ Evans carried the ball in for a touchdown.
But Evans reminded fans of his 75-yard season-opening score when he found a seam through the defense late in the fourth quarter and dashed 64 yards for a touchdown.
No. 13 Cincinnati (1-0) opened its season by scoring on each of its first four drives with Gerrid Doaks scoring three touchdowns in the opening span as Cincinnati took a 28-3 lead into halftime. Doaks would tack on his fourth touchdown – via a reception – late in the third quarter to stave off a potential Govs threat.
Oatsvall completed 20-of-34 passes for 202 yards in the Govs fall season finale. Harley caught four of those passes for 94 yards. Evans rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
Doaks finished with 84 all-purpose yards – 64 receiving and 20 rushing – along with his four touchdowns. Quarterback Desmond Ridder completed 13-of-19 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
Austin Peay completed its fall schedule with Saturday's contest and now awaits the announcement of a spring schedule.