CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Tarleton State remained unbeaten Saturday with a 40-32 victory over Austin Peay in an NCAA Football Championship Division game at Fortera Stadium. The Texans improved to 6-0, while the Governors fell to 5-2 in front of an announced attendance of 8,167. Kaden Anderson powered Tarleton State, completing 22 of 34 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns while rushing seven times for 19 yards. Austin Peay quarterback Chris Parson matched him for much of the afternoon, completing 16 of 33 passes for 231 yards and one passing touchdown while carrying 26 times for 102 yards and two rushing touchdowns. The Texans led for much of the game, but the Governors kept pressure on until the final minutes.

Austin Peay opened the scoring in the first quarter when Hamilton DiBoyan made a 23-yard field goal. Tarleton State answered through the air when Anderson connected with Tanner Schmidt for a 34-yard touchdown. Alejandro De La Poza later added a 20-yard field goal for the Texans. In the second quarter, Anderson found Kyle Thompson on a 6-yard touchdown pass, but the extra-point attempt failed. Tarleton State added another score on M. Brock’s 16-yard run, and De La Poza’s extra point stretched the advantage. Austin Peay responded before halftime when Parson rushed 3 yards for a touchdown, and DiBoyan’s kick trimmed the deficit.

The third quarter belonged mostly to Tarleton State early. Anderson completed a short pass to Marquis Willis that went 5 yards for a touchdown, and De La Poza made the extra point. Austin Peay answered later in the quarter when Parson rushed 1 yard for a touchdown, and DiBoyan kicked the extra point. Parson’s running ability kept the Governors within reach, while Tarleton State’s defense made timely stops to prevent a full comeback. The Texans also benefited from a balanced passing attack that spread the ball to multiple receivers.

In the fourth quarter, De La Poza made a 32-yard field goal for Tarleton State. Austin Peay answered with Matthew Wilson’s 1-yard touchdown run, and Parson converted a successful rushing attempt for two points. Tarleton State then delivered a critical blow when James Paige completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Markellus Bass, and De La Poza’s kick restored separation. Austin Peay refused to fade, as Parson found Denver Harper for an 11-yard touchdown and DiBoyan kicked the extra point. The Governors could not complete the comeback, and Tarleton State ran out the clock for its sixth straight win.

Anderson’s top targets were productive throughout. Schmidt caught eight passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. Willis added four receptions for 97 yards and a score. Mike Hodge had three catches for 40 yards. Klein Essler caught one pass for 37 yards. Danny Joiner added a 15-yard reception. Kyle Thompson finished with three catches for 13 yards and a touchdown. Markellus Bass had one reception for 4 yards and a touchdown. Tylan Hines rushed six times for 21 yards. Paige completed his only pass attempt for 4 yards and a touchdown. The Texans also got a 17-yard punt return from Kam Robinson and two kick returns for 36 yards from DeAndre Buchannon.

For Austin Peay, Harper caught five passes for 106 yards and a touchdown while also rushing once for 6 yards. Marvin Sims recorded six receptions for 88 yards. Jackson Head added two catches for 23 yards. Nate Garnett Jr. had one reception for 2 yards. Wilson rushed once for 1 yard and a touchdown. Parson’s dual-threat performance powered the Governors’ offense, but Tarleton State’s defense limited the big plays when it mattered most. Austin Peay’s offense moved the ball consistently, yet the Governors were forced to play from behind for much of the second half.

Tarleton State’s defense was led by Avian Rice, who made eight tackles. Stephen Woods Jr. and Roddrick Roberts each recorded six tackles, with Roberts also adding two quarterback hurries. Gerard Culotta contributed five tackles. Kaleb Brown made four tackles and two sacks. Lance Carson had four tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Fredd Adams and Jadan Aubert each added four tackles. Morsello Hooker and Seven Cloud each finished with three tackles, with Cloud adding a quarterback hurry. Chris Robinson and Xavier Potts each had two tackles. Omar Emmons, Nicc Oliver, Maasai Gibson, Koby Dickens, Sione Teuhema and O’Shea Miller each had one tackle. Kenyon Partridge added a quarterback hurry. Kenyan Kelly also recorded one tackle. Nicc Oliver returned a kick minus-2 yards. Charlie Mullen punted three times for 71 yards, and Alejandro De La Poza handled the kicking duties.

Austin Peay’s defense was paced by Canaan Williams with seven tackles. Justin Wimpye made six tackles, and Tywan Royal had five tackles and an interception. Trevor Hardy added four tackles. Jefferson Bretanys Desca, Eli Jones and RJ Jackson each had three tackles, with Jackson also recording a sack. Ta’Ron Haile contributed three tackles. Drew Ross returned a kick 12 yards. Hamilton DiBoyan made a 23-yard field goal and added extra points, while the Governors’ defensive front generated pressure at times but could not slow Anderson enough in key moments.

The win continued a strong season for Tarleton State, which previously defeated Chicago State 56-21, Merrimack 45-20, McNeese State 27-24, Bowling Green 20-13 and Prairie View 49-30. Austin Peay had beaten New Haven 42-17, Tennessee-Martin 35-12, West Florida 38-16, Morehead State 63-7 and Gardner-Webb 35-17, while falling to Vanderbilt 28-9. Tarleton State will next host Central Arkansas, then visit West Georgia. The Texans will then host Eastern Kentucky and Abilene Christian before trips to West Florida and North Alabama. Austin Peay will visit West Georgia and North Alabama before home games against Eastern Kentucky and Abilene Christian. The Governors then close the listed stretch with a trip to Central Arkansas.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Tarleton State 48, Austin Peay 33. Interstat’s ELO system gave Tarleton State a 65.5 percent probability to win. Tarleton State had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +1.5. The total score of 72 went under the over/under line of 60.5.