CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Austin Peay opened its season with a 35-17 victory over Gardner-Webb on Thursday night at Fortera Stadium, as the Governors rode a explosive passing attack and a decisive third quarter to the win.

The Governors trailed early after Gardner-Webb’s 36-yard field goal in the first quarter gave the Runnin Bulldogs a 3-0 lead. Austin Peay answered before the end of the period, with Courtland Simmons scoring on a 1-yard run to put the Governors ahead 7-3.

Gardner-Webb regained the lead briefly in the second quarter when Cole Pennington threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Jalile Bost, making it 10-7. But Austin Peay responded with two touchdowns before halftime. Isaiah Groves scored on a 1-yard run, and Chris Parson connected with Denver Harper on a 49-yard touchdown pass, sending the Governors into the locker room with a 21-10 lead.

The decisive stretch came in the third quarter. Austin Peay took the opening possession and methodically moved into Gardner-Webb territory. Parson capped a long drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 28-10. Later in the quarter, Simmons broke loose for a 19-yard scoring run, and the Governors led 35-10. Gardner-Webb never threatened again.

Parson was the catalyst for Austin Peay, completing 14 of 21 passes for 308 yards. He threw one touchdown and added a rushing score, finishing with 31 yards on the ground. Simmons carried 11 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns, while Groves added 11 carries for 31 yards and a score. Harper caught three passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, including the 49-yard strike from Parson. Marvin Sims contributed three receptions for 78 yards, and Jackson Head added two catches for 61 yards.

For Gardner-Webb, Pennington put up strong numbers despite the loss, completing 27 of 49 passes for 312 yards and one touchdown. He was pressured throughout the night, with Austin Peay recording multiple sacks and quarterback hurries. The Runnin Bulldogs managed just 17 points despite gaining 350 yards of total offense, with drives stalling in the red zone and turnovers proving costly.

Austin Peay’s defense was led by Canaan Williams and Trevor Hardy, each with 10 tackles. Kelton Crisp added 1.5 sacks, and Jamarion Ravenell of Gardner-Webb had six sacks in a losing effort. Ta’Ron Haile intercepted a Pennington pass in the third quarter, one of two interceptions on the night. Gardner-Webb’s defense forced one turnover as well, with T. Sanders picking off Parson in the second quarter.

The game turned on the third-quarter sequence. After the Governors stretched the lead to 28-10, they quickly forced a Gardner-Webb punt. Austin Peay then drove 42 yards in eight plays, capped by Simmons’ 19-yard touchdown run that made it a 25-point game. That two-touchdown outburst erased any doubt about the outcome, as the Runnin Bulldogs could not answer.

Gardner-Webb scored its only second-half points on A. Cormier’s 1-yard run with 13:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, capping a 75-yard drive. But the Runnin Bulldogs never got closer than 18 points, and Austin Peay’s offense went into ball-control mode for the remainder of the game.

The Runnin Bulldogs fell to 0-1 with the loss, while Austin Peay improved to 1-0. Gardner-Webb will travel to Wofford on Sept. 5, followed by a road game at Liberty on Sept. 12. The Runnin Bulldogs will also face North Carolina Central at home on Sept. 19 before a nonconference matchup at Marshall on Sept. 26.

Austin Peay will play at Vanderbilt on Sept. 5, then host Morehead State on Sept. 12. The Governors open conference play against Tennessee-Martin on Sept. 26 and will face New Haven on Oct. 3.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Austin Peay 41, Gardner-Webb 34. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Austin Peay with a 75.70 percent probability to win. Gardner-Webb had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +14.5. The total score of 52 went over the over/under line of 59.5.