In what could have been the best chance for a Govs football win this season, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels scored a season high 67 points against APSU. The Govs fell very short losing 67-30.
“I give them a lot of credit,” Head Coach Will Healy said. “They beat us from the first snap to the last snap tonight and we didn’t have an answer for it.”
This game was full of scoring records, erasing almost all of the series matchup records. Prior to this game, the most points APSU scored against EKU was 30, which happened in 1965. The most points scored by EKU against APSU was 56, which happened twice, in the 1988 season and the 1997 season.
In the past four EKU matchups, the Govs only scored a total of 30 points, meaning the Govs matched a four game total in one night against EKU.
“I felt like every time we turned around, they had a short field,” Healy said. “They were really good on special teams as well.”
On the other side, EKU also set a record with their 67 points, the most ever against APSU.
Despite the team loss, a few Gov players have some accomplishments to celebrate.
According to available known records, kicker Nick Guana tied the school record with a 52-yard field goal.
Kentel Williams, the leading rusher for the Govs had a record-breaking 399 all-purpose yards with 176 rushing yards, 42 receiving yards and 181 kick return yards. Along with the all-purpose yards, Williams set a season high rushing yards as well. Williams had one touchdown on the night with a 97-yard kickoff return. Williams also posted the most amount of rushing yards since Otis Gerron’s
“We’re going to have 95 Kentel Williams in the locker room, and we’re going to win championships with guys like that,” Healy said. “Kentel did a phenomenal job competing from the first snap to the last. I could not be more proud of him. He’s a competitor and an extremely talented athlete. He’s really taken the range and provided a spark.”
Kendall Morris moved up to No. 24 on the all-time rushing list.
JaVaughn Craig started the game at quarterback for the Govs, but Timarious Mitchell came in during the 3rd quarter when Craig came out due to a shoulder injury. Craig went 2/11 with 23 yards and 0 touchdowns. Mitchell went 5/18 with 59 yards and one interception.
“JaVaughn is a big part of our offense,” Williams said. “He is a dual-threat quarterback. He can run like a skill player. He can throw the ball like no other. It’s hard seeing a freshman quarterback going out like that, especially one I’m close with, going out to injury. I was really trying to fight for the both of us and help the team out as much as I can.”
The leading receiver for APSU was Jared Beard with three catches for 22 yards.
The Govs end their Ohio Valley Conference play 0-7 and are 0-8 in overall. The 2016 season comes to an end in Lexingon, Kentucky at 3:30 p.m. against University of Kentucky.
