The Governors football team is currently struggling in the Healy era with a 20-game losing streak. Despite all of the losses, there have been some things to celebrate this season.

Tommy Hays rushed for two touchdowns and completed 83 percent of passes, for 160 yards, in the Governors’ 45-17 loss to Murray State on Saturday, Oct. 1.

“We had enough chances to stay in it, but at the end of the day, I feel like we waited on something to happen for us instead of just being the aggressive one.” APSU head coach Will Healy said.

Hays, a sophomore, came into the game for Timarious Mitchell in the second quarter and put himself on the scoring sheets for the first time right before halftime.

APSU (0-4) scored on their first drive of the game thanks to a 39-yard field goal from Nick Gauna. Murray State responded with their own 39-yard attempt from Connor Mitchell to tie the game at 3-3 and close out scoring for the first quarter.

MSU took the lead at the 12:35 mark with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jordon Gandy from KD Humphries. Eight minutes later it was Humphries connecting to Gandy again for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Following two consecutive scores, MSU went for a pooch kick, and were able to successfully win the ball back at APSU’s 25-yard line. The Racers pushed the ball down the field before Humphries found Jesse Blackburn for a 10-yard touchdown pass.

APSU were able to score their first touchdown of the game when Hays rushed for 22 yards and 6 points with less than half a minute remaining in the first half.

Despite taking the momentum from a late score into the locker room, MSU struck first in the second half as Humphries’ 10-yard keeper and Mitchell’s third successful extra point put the Racers ahead 31-10. Four minutes later, Hays’ keeper resulted in a 8-yard touchdown run and brought APSU within two scores.

In the fourth quarter, Humphries passed for two more touchdowns, a 9-yard pass to Mitch Stults and a 12-yarder to Gandy. Humphries went 49-60 with 5 touchdowns and 455 passing yards. Gandy finished with three touchdowns and 147 yards.

“The turnovers were big deals. We can’t throw the pick,” Healy said. “We’ve got to wrap it up and make sure we don’t have a fumble, like the one with James Coleman. We’ve got to execute better in the red zone. Any time you’ve got the ball 4th and 2 on the 2-yard line, we expect to score. That pretty much sums up the football game. They were better than we were tonight.”

Hays led the way for APSU in passing and rushing for the Govs despite the loss to MSU (1-4). APSU returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 8, with an away game against the University of Tennessee at Martin at 2 p.m.