What Is 2013 Austin Peay Governors football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2013 Austin Peay Governors football team represented Austin Peay State University in the NCAA Division I FCS football season, finishing with a 2–9 record under head coach Rick Christophel. They competed in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and played their home games at Governors Stadium in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Key Facts

The 2013 Austin Peay Governors finished with a 2–9 overall record and 1–7 in OVC play.
Head coach Rick Christophel led the team during his fourth season at the helm.
Home games were played at Governors Stadium in Clarksville, Tennessee.
The team scored 208 total points, averaging 18.9 points per game.
Austin Peay lost their final eight games of the 2013 season.

Overview

The 2013 Austin Peay Governors football team represented Austin Peay State University in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Competing as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), the team struggled throughout the season, failing to secure a winning record.

Under the leadership of head coach Rick Christophel, the Governors played their home games at Governors Stadium in Clarksville, Tennessee. The season marked the fourth year of Christophel’s tenure, during which the program sought improvement but faced significant challenges on both offense and defense.

Record: The team finished the 2013 season with a 2–9 overall record and 1–7 in conference play, placing them near the bottom of the OVC standings.
Head Coach: Rick Christophel entered his fourth season as head coach, aiming to rebuild the program but facing persistent struggles with consistency and player development.
Home Stadium: Governors Stadium, located in Clarksville, Tennessee, served as the home field for all five home games during the 2013 campaign.
Scoring Output: The offense managed to score 208 total points across 11 games, averaging just 18.9 points per game, one of the lowest in the FCS.
Season Outcome: After starting the season 2–1, the Governors lost their final eight games, including a 70–6 defeat to Eastern Illinois, the worst loss in program history.

Performance and Season Details

The 2013 season was defined by offensive inefficiency and defensive breakdowns, particularly in conference matchups. The team showed brief promise early but quickly unraveled as the schedule intensified.

Season Start: The Governors began 2–1 with wins over Tennessee State and Mississippi Valley State, giving hope for a turnaround under Christophel.
Offensive Struggles: Quarterback Matt Dunigan led the team with 1,721 passing yards, but the unit averaged only 284 yards per game, ranking among the FCS’s weakest.
Defensive Woes: The defense allowed an average of 38.5 points per game, including five games where opponents scored 40 or more points.
Key Loss: A 70–6 defeat to Eastern Illinois on October 19 became the most lopsided loss in school history, highlighting systemic issues.
Conference Play: Their only OVC win came against Tennessee State; all other conference games ended in defeat, reflecting poor competitiveness.
Player Development: Despite challenges, running back Ja’Quay Williams showed promise with 553 rushing yards, one of few bright spots on offense.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2013 Austin Peay Governors compared to select OVC peers in key statistical categories:

Team	Overall Record	OVC Record	Points Per Game	Points Allowed Per Game
Austin Peay	2–9	1–7	18.9	38.5
Eastern Illinois	7–4	6–2	38.1	28.3
Tennessee State	6–5	5–3	26.7	29.1
UT Martin	6–5	4–4	25.8	27.4
Murray State	6–6	4–4	27.2	30.5

The table illustrates a significant gap between Austin Peay and the rest of the OVC, particularly in scoring and defensive performance. While peers competed for postseason consideration, the Governors struggled to remain competitive, finishing with the second-worst scoring defense in the conference.

Why It Matters

The 2013 season was a pivotal moment in the trajectory of Austin Peay football, underscoring the need for programmatic changes. Poor results led to increased scrutiny and eventually contributed to coaching changes in subsequent years.

Program Evaluation: The 2–9 record intensified pressure on head coach Rick Christophel, who was eventually dismissed after the 2013 season.
Recruiting Impact: Consistent losing made it harder to attract top-tier talent, especially within the competitive OVC landscape.
Historic Low: The 70–6 loss to Eastern Illinois remains the worst defeat in school history, symbolizing the depth of the team’s struggles.
Conference Standing: Finishing near the bottom of the OVC diminished the team’s reputation and reduced media exposure.
Rebuilding Foundation: The season’s challenges helped inform future strategic decisions, including overhauling the coaching staff and recruiting approach.
Fan Engagement: Low attendance and waning interest highlighted the importance of competitive performance for community support.

The 2013 campaign ultimately served as a catalyst for change, setting the stage for a complete reevaluation of the football program’s direction in the years that followed.