Austin Peay Dominates Middle Tennessee 34-14 in Week 1
Austin Peay cruised to a 34-14 victory over Middle Tennessee in Week 1, with quarterback Chris Parson leading an efficient offensive performance. The Governors jumped out to an early advantage, scoring 14 points in the first quarter behind Parson's passing. Parson connected with receivers Shemar Kirk and Jaden Robinson for touchdowns, establishing control early.
Middle Tennessee managed to narrow the gap with a second-quarter touchdown, pulling within 21-7 at halftime. The Blue Raiders added another score in the third quarter when Nicholas Vattiato found Nahzae Cox for a 14-yard touchdown pass, but Austin Peay's offense proved too potent to overcome.
The Governors outscored MTSU 10-0 in the fourth quarter to seal the comfortable win. Austin Peay's defense produced several disruptive plays throughout, highlighted by three impactful stops in the first quarter alone. The victory came as Austin Peay covered the spread and the final score fell under the 53.5 over-under, finishing at 48 combined points. Parson's passing attack led the way as Austin Peay established itself as the superior team from opening kickoff.
AI-generated recap · Aug 23, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austin Peay | 14 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 34 |
 Middle Tennessee | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Austin Peay | Middle Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 14-27 | 16-37 |
| Pass Yards | 193 | 109 |
| Rush Yards | 150 | 44 |
| Total Yards | 343 | 153 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| 3rd Down | 7-17 | 0-12 |
| Penalties | 9-88 | 4-50 |
| Possession | 38:35 | 21:25 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Amorion Walker for 6 yds to the MTSU 31
Jekail Middlebrook run for a loss of 1 yard to the MTSU 30
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Jekail Middlebrook
Ashton Logan punt for 33 yds
Chris Parson run for 4 yds to the APSU 41 Chris Parson fumbled, recovered by APSU Zak Bowden
Courtland Simmons run for 11 yds to the MTSU 48 for a 1ST down
Chris Parson sacked for a loss of 3 yards to the APSU 49
Chris Parson run for 5 yds to the MTSU 46
Chris Parson pass complete to Shemar Kirk for 22 yds to the MTSU 24 for a 1ST down
Courtland Simmons run for 2 yds to the MTSU 22
Chris Parson pass complete to Jaden Robinson for 22 yds for a TD (Carson Smith KICK)
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Hunter Tipton
Jekail Middlebrook run for 19 yds to the MTSU 44 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Jekail Middlebrook
Jekail Middlebrook run for a loss of 2 yards to the MTSU 42
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Nahzae Cox
Ashton Logan punt for 50 yds, fair catch by Javious Bond at the APSU 8
Javious Bond run for 1 yd to the APSU 9
Chris Parson pass incomplete
Courtland Simmons run for no gain to the APSU 9
Gavin Myers punt for 44 yds
Nicholas Vattiato run for 6 yds to the APSU 47
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Gamarion Carter
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Cam'ron Lacy
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Cam'ron Lacy
Kaden Williams run for 2 yds to the APSU 49
Chris Parson pass incomplete to Jase Skoglund
Chris Parson run for 6 yds to the MTSU 45
Chris Parson pass complete to Jackson Head for 3 yds to the MTSU 42 for a 1ST down
Javious Bond run for 5 yds to the MTSU 37
Chris Parson pass incomplete
Chris Parson pass complete to Shemar Kirk for 36 yds to the MTSU 1 for a 1ST down
Courtland Simmons run for 1 yd for a TD (Carson Smith KICK)
Rickey Hunt Jr. run for 15 yds to the MTSU 40 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Tayvion Galloway
Rickey Hunt Jr. run for 5 yds to the MTSU 45
Nicholas Vattiato run for 1 yd to the MTSU 46
Ashton Logan punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Javious Bond at the APSU 11
Corey Richardson run for no gain to the APSU 11
Chris Parson pass complete to Javious Bond for 13 yds to the APSU 24 for a 1ST down
Nate Garnett Jr. run for 9 yds to the APSU 33
Javious Bond run for 4 yds to the APSU 37 for a 1ST down
Chris Parson run for 4 yds to the APSU 41
Chris Parson run for 6 yds to the APSU 47 for a 1ST down
Chris Parson run for 7 yds to the MTSU 46
Corey Richardson run for 1 yd to the MTSU 45
Courtland Simmons run for 3 yds to the MTSU 42 for a 1ST down
Chris Parson pass incomplete to Kamari Maxwell
Javious Bond run for 1 yd to the MTSU 41
Chris Parson pass complete to Javious Bond for 9 yds to the MTSU 32 for a 1ST down
Corey Richardson run for 17 yds to the MTSU 15 Corey Richardson fumbled, recovered by APSU Corey Richardson for a 1ST down
PENALTY APSU Delay Of Game 5 yards from MTSU15 to MTSU20. NO PLAY.
Chris Parson pass incomplete to Nate Garnett Jr.
Nate Garnett Jr. run for 5 yds to the MTSU 15
Chris Parson pass complete to Shemar Kirk for 11 yds to the MTSU 4 for a 1ST down
Jackson Head 4 Yd pass from Chris Parson (Carson Smith Kick)
Jekail Middlebrook run for 1 yd to the MTSU 26
Jekail Middlebrook run for 10 yds to the MTSU 36 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato sacked for a loss of 7 yards to the MTSU 29
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Gamarion Carter
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Nahzae Cox
Ashton Logan punt for 48 yds , Javious Bond returns for 7 yds to the APSU 30
(03:44) No Huddle-Shotgun Parson,Chris rush right for 15 yards gain to the APSU45 (Hughes,Parker) PENALTY APSU Holding (Ba,Saidou) 10 yards from APSU30 to APSU20. NO PLAY.
Chris Parson pass complete to Jade Kneeland for 5 yds to the APSU 25
Chris Parson sacked by Damonte Smith for a loss of 6 yards to the APSU 19
Javious Bond run for 12 yds to the APSU 31
Gavin Myers punt for 36 yds , Jekail Middlebrook returns for no gain to the MTSU 33
Jekail Middlebrook run for 2 yds to the MTSU 35
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Nahzae Cox for 11 yds to the MTSU 46 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato run for 9 yds to the APSU 45
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Myles Butler for 8 yds to the APSU 37 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Jekail Middlebrook for 12 yds to the APSU 25 for a 1ST down
(00:57) No Huddle-Shotgun Vattiato,Nicholas rush left for 1 yard gain to the APSU24 (Hood,Davion) PENALTY APSU Offside (Cox Jr.,TJ) 5 yards from APSU25 to APSU20. NO PLAY.
(00:51) No Huddle-Shotgun Vattiato,Nicholas pass incomplete short left to Cox,Nahzae thrown to APSU01, 1ST DOWN, PENALTY APSU Pass Interference (Ellis Jr.,Ellis) 15 yards from APSU20 to APSU05, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Nahzae Cox 5 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Jacob Hathaway Kick)
Courtland Simmons run for 5 yds to the APSU 18
End of 2nd Quarter
Javious Bond run for a loss of 5 yards to the APSU 20
Chris Parson pass incomplete to Jaden Robinson
Chris Parson run for 6 yds to the APSU 26 for a 1ST down Middle Tennessee Penalty, (15 Yards) to the APSU 41 for a 1ST down
Chris Parson pass complete to Nate Garnett Jr. for 9 yds to the 50 yard line
(13:09) No Huddle-Shotgun Parson,Chris pass incomplete deep left to Robinson,Jaden thrown to MTSU15 PENALTY MTSU Pass Interference (Ferrell,Trevon) 15 yards from APSU50 to MTSU35, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Javious Bond run for 13 yds to the MTSU 22 for a 1ST down
Javious Bond run for a loss of 5 yards to the MTSU 27
Chris Parson run for 4 yds to the MTSU 23
Chris Parson pass incomplete to Nate Garnett Jr.
Carson Smith 40 Yd Field Goal
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Nahzae Cox for 6 yds to the MTSU 31
Jekail Middlebrook run for a loss of 2 yards to the MTSU 29
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Myles Butler
Ashton Logan punt for 48 yds, fair catch by Javious Bond at the APSU 23
Kaden Williams run for a loss of 1 yard to the APSU 22
Chris Parson pass complete to Kamari Maxwell for 8 yds to the APSU 30
Chris Parson run for 1 yd to the APSU 31
Gavin Myers punt for 30 yds
Rickey Hunt Jr. run for 3 yds to the MTSU 42
(07:07) PENALTY MTSU False Start (Guevara,Mateo) 5 yards from MTSU42 to MTSU37. NO PLAY.
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Rickey Hunt Jr. for 1 yd to the MTSU 38
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Myles Butler
Ashton Logan punt for 50 yds, fair catch by Javious Bond at the APSU 12
Corey Richardson run for a loss of 1 yard to the APSU 11
Chris Parson pass incomplete to Kamari Maxwell
Chris Parson pass incomplete to Shemar Kirk
Gavin Myers punt for 42 yds , Jekail Middlebrook returns for 9 yds to the APSU 44
Jekail Middlebrook run for 2 yds to the APSU 42
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete
(04:15) No Huddle-Shotgun Vattiato,Nicholas pass incomplete short left to Carter,Gamarion thrown to APSU30 PENALTY APSU Roughing The Passer (Sandifer,Al) 15 yards from APSU42 to APSU27, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Jekail Middlebrook run for 10 yds to the APSU 17 for a 1ST down
Jekail Middlebrook run for 3 yds to the APSU 14
Nahzae Cox 14 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Jacob Hathaway Kick)
Austin Smith pass complete to Jaden Robinson for 9 yds to the APSU 34
Courtland Simmons run for 4 yds to the APSU 38 for a 1ST down
Courtland Simmons run for 1 yd to the APSU 39
Austin Smith pass incomplete to Syir Sutton
Austin Smith pass incomplete to Courtland Simmons
Gavin Myers punt for 29 yds , Jekail Middlebrook returns for 6 yds to the MTSU 38
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Nahzae Cox
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Myles Butler
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Hunter Tipton for 6 yds to the MTSU 44
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Jekail Middlebrook
PENALTY APSU Delay Of Game 5 yards from MTSU44 to MTSU49. NO PLAY.
Austin Smith pass complete to Nate Garnett Jr. for 41 yds to the MTSU 8 for a 1ST down
Courtland Simmons run for 4 yds to the MTSU 4
(13:42) No Huddle-Shotgun Smith,Austin rush left for 4 yards gain to the MTSU00 TOUCHDOWN nullified by penalty, clock 13:39 PENALTY APSU Holding (Hilliard,Nick) 10 yards from MTSU04 to MTSU14. NO PLAY.
Austin Smith pass incomplete to Jackson Head
Austin Smith sacked by Zeion Simpson-Smith for a loss of 5 yards to the MTSU 19
Carson Smith 36 Yd Field Goal
Carson Smith kickoff for 60 yds , John Howse IV return for 35 yds to the MTSU 40
Nicholas Vattiato sacked by Joquarri Price for a loss of 11 yards to the MTSU 29
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to AJ Jones
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Gamarion Carter
Ashton Logan punt for 54 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the MTSU 28 , Javious Bond returns for 55 yds to the MTSU 28
Kaden Williams run for 7 yds to the MTSU 21
Austin Smith pass incomplete to Nate Garnett Jr.
Austin Smith run for 8 yds to the MTSU 13 for a 1ST down
Courtland Simmons run for 4 yds to the MTSU 9
Austin Smith pass complete to Jackson Head for 1 yd to the MTSU 8
Austin Smith run for 6 yds to the MTSU 2 for a 1ST down
Austin Smith 2 Yd Run (Carson Smith Kick)
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Myles Butler
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Jekail Middlebrook
Jekail Middlebrook run for 6 yds to the MTSU 31
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Jekail Middlebrook for 9 yds to the MTSU 40 for a 1ST down
Middle Tennessee Penalty, (-15 Yards) to the MTSU 25
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Nahzae Cox for 10 yds to the MTSU 35 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Amorion Walker for 4 yds to the MTSU 39
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Rickey Hunt Jr. for 7 yds to the MTSU 46 for a 1ST down
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Rickey Hunt Jr. for 1 yd to the MTSU 47
Nicholas Vattiato pass complete to Nahzae Cox for 4 yds to the APSU 49
Nicholas Vattiato pass incomplete to Nahzae Cox
Nicholas Vattiato sacked by TJ Cox Jr. for a loss of 8 yards to the MTSU 43
Corey Richardson run for 3 yds to the MTSU 40
Corey Richardson run for 1 yd to the MTSU 39
Austin Smith run for 2 yds to the MTSU 37
Logan Leftrick punt for 20 yds
Roman Gagliano pass complete to AJ Jones for 5 yds to the MTSU 33
Roman Gagliano sacked for a loss of 9 yards to the MTSU 24
Roman Gagliano sacked by Jaycob Neely for a loss of 8 yards to the MTSU 16
Ashton Logan punt for 41 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the APSU 43
A. Smith takes a knee
A. Smith takes a knee