Austin Peay cashes in on Southeast mistakes

~ Saturday's loss dropped the Redhawks to 0-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Austin Peay has used one formula to become the Ohio Valley Conference's surprise team this season.

Keep things close down the stretch and find a way to win.

It worked again Saturday afternoon, thanks to a large assist from Southeast Missouri State as the Redhawks suffered their sixth straight loss.

The Govs needed to drive a total of 50 yards to score their 21 points in regulation before they squeezed out a 34-31 double-overtime victory at Houck Stadium.

Austin Peay quarterback Mark Cunningham got off a pass that Southeast's Pat Christian tried to block during the first half Saturday at Houck Stadium. (Aaron Eisenhauer)

Austin Peay, picked to finish last in the 10-team OVC after resuming scholarship football only a year ago, improved to 6-3 overall and a fourth-place 4-2 in the conference.

The Govs, who have clinched only their third winning season since 1984, have posted every one of their OVC victories by three points. One of their two league losses came by a point in overtime.

On the other hand, Southeast continued to struggle as the Redhawks fell to 2-7 overall and a last-place 0-6 in league play.

"It's a tough loss," senior tailback/kick returner Elton Peterson said. "They [Austin Peay] played good. ... We came together as a team. Things just didn't end up like we hoped."

After being outscored by a combined 76 points in their last three games, including a 55-20 defeat at Tennessee-Martin last week, the Redhawks' defense and offense teamed up for probably their best combined performance of the season.

Southeast outgained Austin Peay 353 to 290 as the Redhawks' defense allowed its lowest yardage total this year.

But two glaring special teams blunders virtually handed the Govs 14 of their 21 points in regulation. And an interception left Austin Peay needing to drive just 41 yards for a score.

"I really feel for our players," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "They put out a good effort. There were encouraging things. We'll just continue to plug on."

On the game's opening kickoff, the ball bounced off Peterson's helmet and Austin Peay recovered at Southeast's 9-yard line. The Govs scored on the next play to lead 7-0.

"I just took my eyes off it," Peterson said. "It's one of those mistakes. They happen."

After Southeast took a 14-7 lead late in the second quarter on the second of four touchdown passes by junior quarterback Houston Lillard -- three were caught by true freshman Miles Edwards, who tied a single-game school record for most TD receptions -- the Redhawks appeared poised to add to their advantage.

But in the waning moments of the first half, sophomore Doug Spada's 40-yard field-goal attempt was blocked and scooped up by Kevis Buckley, who returned it 67 yards for a touchdown and a 14-14 deadlock just 19 seconds before the intermission.

After a scoreless third quarter, Austin Peay went ahead 21-14 with under 4 minutes left in regulation as the Govs needed to drive just 41 yards following a Lillard interception that was returned 41 yards.

Peterson's 27-yard kickoff return to the Austin Peay 48 set up the Redhawks with good field position.

They converted as Lillard hit Edwards on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:27 left for a 21-21 deadlock.

Southeast's defense forced a punt, which was shanked and went just 16 yards, so the Redhawks took over at the Austin Peay 44 with 37 seconds remaining.

A completion and a personal foul on the Govs set up Southeast at the 22. The Redhawks could march no further, so the normally reliable Spada lined up for a potential game-winning field goal.

But Spada, who in the first quarter missed a 35-yarder, hit this 39-yarder wide left with 4.2 seconds left.

It was on to overtime, where each team gets equal possessions from the opposition's 25-yard line until a winner is decided.

Austin Peay was on offense first and senior tailback Chris Fletcher ripped off a 25-yard touchdown run on the opening play. Fletcher, the school's career rushing leader, gained 162 yards and scored three TDs Saturday.

Southeast answered on third-and-10 as Lillard and Edwards hooked up for their third TD pass, a 25-yarder.

The Redhawks went on offense first for the second extra period and this time had to settle for Spada's 33-yard field goal that put them ahead 31-28.

It didn't take long for Austin Peay to end the contest. Again on the first play, Mark Cunningham threw a perfect strike to Darryl Miller in the end zone for a game-ending, 25-yard TD.

"They hit two plays [in overtime]. That's all it took," redshirt freshman defensive end Damian Smith said. "It was a rough loss, but we'll come back. We always have to keep our heads up."