Austin Peay State University - Yearbook (Clarksville, TN)

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SUCCESS NEVER IFQILILQWED BUSH had the Hilltoppers backed up on their own eight-yard-Iine with just under three minutes to play. Disaster then struck a tasteless blow to Austin Peay. With just 2:15 showing on the scoreboard clock, the WKU quarterback hurried a long pass that sailed over the Governor secondary into the hands of a Hill- topper receiver who raced into the endzone for a touchdown. The play covered 92 yards. It was a nightmare play that would keep Bushofsky awake for many nights as he replayed it in his mind. OUT OF THE BACKFIELD - Quarterback Randy Christophel executes the option play with perfection tAbovet as tailback Ernest Fletcher is ready for the pitch. One of the Governors top ground gainers in 1976 was hard-running Henry Yarber tRighD shown against Eastern Kentucky.

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Few football teams have an oppor- tunity to assault the tradition of Western Kentucky football. 80 when Austin Peay jogged on the field that afternoon, ignored by the uncon- cerned thousands of WKU sup- porters ready to witness another Hilltopper thrashing, it was obvious that little opposition was expected from the Governors. From the opening kickoff Austin Peay served notice that it would not oblige its host and roll over and play dead. With an unyielding defense and determined offense performing to perfection the Governors gained a 7-3 advantage eWKU's only score came on a 48-yard field goaD and ALMOST AN UPSET a Austin Peay played one of its finest football games in many years but fell short against Western Kentucky in Bowling Green as the Hilltoppers prevailed thanks to a 92-yard bomb in the final two minutes. Helping the Governor cause was talented receiver Ron Bailey Com shown straining for extra yardage. Head coach Jack Bushofsky tinsett offers instructions to the offensive unit during the contest. Bushofsky tRighQ walks off the field following the defeat with athletic director George Fisher offering a proud handshake.

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That one dramatic 12-7 defeat seemed to tarnish any success the Governors realized the remainder of 1976. The team conquered More- head, Middle Tennessee and con- cluded the season with an impres- sive win over East Tennessee. Several standouts surfaced throughout the year. Terry McCabe, Bob Bible and James Green, a trio of human stop signs, anchored the Austin Peay defense and were in- cluded on the All-OVC honor squad. Defensive back Don Derrick led the OVC in punt returns and was select- ed on the All-OVC second team. Waddeil Whitehead placed fifth in the OVC in rushing and was named on the second team along with Ron Bailey, a talented receiver who caught 43, and offensive tackle Les Jones. Bushofsky lost his job at the end of the 1976 season. Let the record show, however, that he initiated progress in the program. MAKING A PASS! a Lorenzo Keenan tDark Jerseyi proved to be one of the top pass rushers in the Ohio Valley Conference. Keenan is shown applying a not-so-friendly hug on Morehead quarterback Phil Simms.