N.C. Central vs. Austin Peay Football Preview
Clarksville, Tenn. – The N.C. Central Eagles and Austin Peay Governors football programs were polar opposites in 2016; but, their paths cross for the first time on the gridiron tomorrow. And now, they’re spitting images.
But in 2016, Austin Peay hit rock bottom. They finished 0-11: stuck in a 27-game losing streak. On the flip side, the Eagles went 9-3, made it to the Celebration Bowl for the first time in school history and only needed two points to defeat Grambling State and be crowned the black national champions.
Governors head coach Will Healy secured the No. 1 FCS recruiting class in 2017, after the abysmal first year, turned the program around and took the head coaching job at UNC-Charlotte last Dec. Jerry Mack, Central’s football coach from 2014 to 2017, left at the end of the 2017 season for the offensive coordinator job at Rice University.
Defensive coordinator Granville Eastman became the interim head coach in 2018, but N.C. Central hired former Eagles football standout Trei Oliver as head coach on Dec. 13, 2018.
“They’re really a spitting image of ourselves,” Oliver said about the Governors. “It’s like looking in the mirror – new staff, had about the same record last year (each 5-6), both of us want to run the football. They’re very talented in the back end, and I think it’s going to be a physical football game.”
Both teams are talented at running back, but the Governors have more proven backs. Austin Peay starting senior running back Kentel Williams tallied 1,510 all-purpose yards last season and was named a 2019 Preseason FCS All-American. Also, senior running back Prince Momodu and junior Ahmaad Tanner combined for 632 yards rushing last year.
For the Eagles, Redshirt junior running back Isaiah Totten is the only back with significant touches in the Eagles’ backfield. He was named First-Team All-MEAC last season after notching 768 yards rushing and seven touchdowns rushing. Totten is 1-of-3 Eagles named on the 2019 Preseason First-Team All-MEAC.
“We have a stable at running backs,” Oliver said, “and we’re going to give them the ball and let them work. Quarterbacks, we want them to manage the football game.
The Governors have the advantage at the quarterback position. Austin Peay junior quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall set the single-season touchdown record with 26 touchdowns, and he was only the second quarterback to throw for 20 touchdowns passing. Oatsvall is also elusive with his feet. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry last year for six touchdowns rushing.
Eagles redshirt senior quarterback Micah Zanders will start Thursday night for the Eagles after beating out Chauncey Caldwell in fall camp. He missed the 2018 season, and most of 2017, due to a season-ending injury on Oct. 21, 2017. Zanders went 25-46 for 257 yards passing
“It was a great battle,” Oliver said, “and I think both of those guys are obviously capable of being the starting quarterback because Micah will be starting on Thursday and Chauncey started all last year until he got hurt. … Those guys will continue to battle, and I’m sure Chauncey will play Thursday as well.
Prediction
Austin Peay 28, N.C. Central 17
College football doesn’t have any preseason games, so self-inflicted negatives, “S.I.Ns” are what Oliver calls them, are expected in an opener. Factor in that N.C. Central has 37 true freshmen and the totem pole swings in favor of Austin P. in an away game for the Eagles.
“We’re young,” Oliver said, “but, our freshmen are a talented group, and we hope they can grow up fast. … We’ll see how they perform in the fire.”
Kickoff is 8 p.m. EST. The game will be aired on ESPN+, video, with play-by-play radio on Eagles Sports Network beginning at 7:30 p.m. EST.
(Feature image courtesy of Lawrence Davis)