Williams scores on opening kickoff and Parson accounts for 3 TDs, leading Austin Peay over EKU 55-31

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chris Parson accounted for three touchdowns, Kaden Williams took the opening kickoff 100 yards into the end zone, and Austin Peay rolled to a 55-31 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday night.

Parson completed 13 of 21 passes for 194 yards and threw one touchdown pass and an interception. He led the Governors on the ground with 137 yards and two scores. Courtland Simmons also had a touchdown run for Austin Peay (8-2, 4-1 United Athletic Conference), which entered seventh-ranked in the Stats Perform poll and has won seven of its last eight games.

Myles Burkett was 21-of-33 passing for 302 yards and threw four touchdown passes for Eastern Kentucky (3-7, 2-3). Jayden West had seven receptions for 120 yards that included a 13-yard touchdown catch. Three others caught touchdown passes for the Colonels.

The Governors built a 34-17 halftime lead but Burkett threw touchdown passes on back-to-back drives to cut the Colonels' deficit to 34-31 midway through the third quarter.

Keith Charney capped the scoring for the Governors with a 25-yard pick-6 with 4:23 left to play.

Up next

Eastern Kentucky: At home against Central Arkansas on Saturday.

Austin Peay: Hosts Abilene Christian on Saturday.

___

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here