Southeast Missouri State football team will attempt to keep Governors winless on season

Kirby Cannon expected rough sledding in his first year after taking over a struggling Austin Peay football program.

In that regard Cannon has not been surprised by much he has encountered.

Austin Peay (0-10, 0-6 Ohio Valley Conference) is still looking for its first win entering Saturday's 1 p.m. contest against visiting Southeast Missouri State (2-8, 1-5) in Clarksville, Tenn.

"It's been tough. I knew it would be tough," Cannon said. "It hasn't been a surprise, but I've been very happy with the support of the university, the team itself. It'll happen. We have too many things going for us at Austin Peay."

The Governors have struggled in virtually every area, with offense topping the list.

Austin Peay has scored only five touchdowns and just 56 points all season, the lowest total in the nation. The Govs are being outscored on average 40.6 to 5.6 and their closest margin of defeat is 24 points. Their leading scorer is their kicker.

"I knew after spring ball we were thin at some spots; we had a lack of talent in other key spots," Cannon said. "There's been improvement in some areas, some others not so much."

Southeast coach Tony Samuel said the Govs were dealt one of the toughest early hands he's seen.

Most FCS programs play one FBS opponent each year in exchange for a nice paycheck. Some FCS teams play two FBS squads.

But Austin Peay had to face three high-quality FBS opponents in its first four games. The results were fairly predictable as the Govs were routed 45-0 at Tennessee, 38-3 at Vanderbilt and 38-0 at Ohio. Added to that rugged nonconference run was a 42-10 loss at FCS power Chattanooga.

"That's been incredibly tough. That's a lot of FBS teams to play," Samuel said. "That kind of thing can snowball on you."

It has on the Govs, who also have been waxed in six straight OVC games.

But Samuel said when he watches the Govs on film, they appear to have solid personnel and they have not stopped competing.

"They're playing hard. I think they've got good players. I think they're a capable team," Samuel said.

Austin Peay is last in the OVC in scoring offense, scoring defense and total offense (214 yards per game) while ranking seventh in total defense (428.4 yards per game).

The Govs have used three quarterbacks at various times in an attempt to ignite their floundering offense. The trio has combined for a 46.6 completion percentage, 970 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Junior Andrew Spivey has seen the most action, completing 59 of 117 (50.4 percent) for 484 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions.

Redshirt freshman Timarious Mitchell, scheduled to start Saturday, has completed 35 of 88 (39.8 percent) for 301 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Sophomore Jacob Sexton is 21 of 42 (50 percent) for 185 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Govs appear to have two capable running backs in senior Tim Phillips (497 yards, 5.0 yards per carry, two touchdowns) and sophomore Omar Williams (489 yards, 4.0 ypc).

Austin Peay's top receiver is junior Darryl Clack (25 catches, 12.3-yard average, two touchdowns).

"They do a good job running the football. They're pretty solid on defense," Samuel said.

Austin Peay's top scorer is freshman kicker Chase Dunlap with 19 points. He has made 5 of 8 field goals and is perfect in four PAT attempts.

Southeast has problems of its own, especially after last week's 41-16 home loss to a Tennessee Tech squad that entered winless in OVC play.

The Redhawks are next-to-last in the OVC in scoring offense (19.2 ppg), scoring defense (36.5 ppg) and total defense (464.3 ypg) while ranking seventh in total offense (324.5 ypg).

Southeast beat Austin Peay 48-27 last year in Clarksville, part of a season that saw the Govs go 2-9 overall and 1-7 in league play. The Redhawks have won three straight against Austin Peay, with two of those victories coming on the road. Samuel said it's vital for Southeast to continue that trend.

"This is a very important game for us just to get some momentum back," Samuel said.