The All State

Media Credit: Lois Jones Junior wide receiver Lanis Frederick broke the APSU record for receptions and for receiving yards last season. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Lois Jones Senior running back Chris Fletcher will look to once again lead the Govs in rushing for the season. [Click to enlarge]

Experience, expectations and record breaking players all could describe three of the top returning offensive players for the Austin Peay State University Governors. Ohio Valley Conference opponents will have to pick their poison. You have accuracy with senior quarterback Mark Cunningham, vision with senior running back Chris Fletcher and speed with junior wide receiver Lanis Frederick.

"Everything is going to run smoother this season" Frederick said. Frederick will look once again to dominate the OVC after a successful sophomore season which saw him break a 37 year old record by catching 77 passes. He also set the APSU mark for receptions with 1,101 receiving yards, and was third in the nation 100.09 yards a game.

"Last year I had a little help, but this year we really put time in recruiting more receivers" Frederick said. "I put on a little weight, polished up my routes a little bit so I think we be alright receiving wise."

Though Frederick made breaking records look easy last season, he is all about trying to do whatever it takes to make sure the Govs have a successful season.

"As the years go on you always want to do better than the year before" Frederick said. "If I don't do as well as I did last year I won't look at it as failure, I will just look at it as know I have help and I won't be doing everything by myself." One player who will helping Frederick out is teammate Chris Fletcher. Fletcher returns to the Govs as an All-American candidate after becoming APSU's all time leading rusher as a junior. Fletcher finished last season with 1,401 yards which was good for second most all time in a season.

"I feel as though I am in a leadership role and I have to step up and do the things I have done in the past because I'm a senior now," Fletcher said. If Fletcher even mirrors his season from a year ago the Govs will be in good hands. Fletcher's 127.36 rushing yards per game ranked 10th nationally in 1-AA, including a career best 197 rushing yards against Morehead State.

"The experience is going to give us a chance to be in every game" Fletcher said. "We feel as though if it comes down to the fourth quarter and the game is tied and we're up or down a touchdown we will have an opportunity to win the game." The player responsible for handing the ball to Fletcher or passing it down the field to Frederick will be none other than quarterback Mark Cunningham. Cunningham returns to his position as starting quarterback after taking over the role last season. Cunningham became only the third quarterback to throw for 2,000 yards or more, including passing for 308 yards against Charleston. Cunningham completed 50 percent of his passes in 10 of 11 games.

"Its exciting to get this season started because there is no pressure" Cunningham said. "We were picked to finish last in the OVC so we will go into every game as the underdog and I think we are going to surprise a lot of people." Having this triple threat offense will certainly help the Govs in their first full OVC season. The 2007 theme for the football team is "A New Tradition" which the Govs hope means a tradition of winning.

"We were dominated by freshmen last year so that year of experience is going to help" Cunningham said. "Fletcher, Frederick and our whole offensive line are going to help take some of the pressure off of me."

"Everybody came this season ready to work and ready to win" Fletcher said. "We are all on the same page and we know we can compete with anybody."

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