Benson's overtime PAT gives TSU victory over Austin Peay

Photo: Austin Peay's Kit Hartsfield (43) and JayR Harper (28) force Tennessee State's Terrence Wright to fumble during the second quarter.



By MIKE ORGAN. The Tennnessean

CLARKSVILLE — For the second consecutive week, kicker Eric Benson lifted Tennessee State to a victory. This time, it was his extra-point kick in overtime that won the game for the Tigers, 33-32 over Austin Peay.

"It's the second week straight, but it's still nerve-racking," said Benson, who a week earlier kicked a decisive field goal in the Memphis rain to defeat Jackson State.

Benson's winning extra point against the Govs was actually his second clutch kick of the night. He connected on a career-long 43-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime at 26-26.

"That field goal was a little too close for comfort," Benson said. "I think God sent a little bit of wind to blow it in. That's how close it was."

It was surprising that TSU (2-1) needed divine intervention to beat the Governors (2-1).

It was Austin Peay's first game against an Ohio Valley Conference opponent since the Govs' return to the conference after leaving it and dropping scholarship football in 1996.

"I'm serious when I say I really hate that somebody had to lose this football game,'' TSU Coach James Webster said. "For Austin Peay to only be giving scholarships for (two) years and play as they did, that's a tribute to their staff and their team. I've got all the respect in the world for their football team."

The Governors earned that respect by giving TSU fits in front of a capacity crowd (8,359) at Governors Stadium. It was the first sellout since the 1970s and would have been one of the Govs' most historic victories had they pulled it out.

Big plays, big trouble

Austin Peay scored on big plays and also made TSU pay for its mistakes.

The Govs scored first on a 58-yard pass from Mark Cunningham to Jeff Lyle on the third play of the game.

Austin Peay also scored on a 67-yard punt return by former Maplewood star Terrence Holt, which gave the Govs a 19-16 lead in the fourth quarter.

After TSU pulled ahead 23-19 on a 27-yard pass from Antonio Heffner to Chris Johnson, Austin Peay's Kevis Buckley scooped up a fumble by TSU's Antonio Graham and went 64 yards for a touchdown that gave the Govs a 26-23 lead.

Benson's game-tying kick came after a TSU drive had stalled at APSU's 25.

In overtime, Benson's extra-point kick was set up to be the game winner by TSU cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who moments earlier had blocked Austin Peay kicker Isaac Ziolkowski's extra-point try. This was after the Govs had scored first in overtime on Chris Fletcher's six-yard run.

On the ensuing possession, TSU running back Javarris Williams scored his first TD of the season from two yards out to tie the game at 32. Benson then connected on the game-winning extra point.