UT MARTIN FOOTBALL POSTS STATEMENT WIN AT TENNESSEE TECH TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN OVC PLAY

Saturday, October 12

Cookeville, Tenn.

6 p.m.

UT Martin

4-2 , 3-0

Tennessee Tech

4-3 , 1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UT Martin

Tennessee Tech

UT MARTIN FOOTBALL POSTS STATEMENT WIN AT TENNESSEE TECH TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN OVC PLAY

10/12/2019 11:33:00 PM | Football

Box Score PDF Postgame: Simpson Photo Gallery

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin football team went on the road and posted a statement Ohio Valley Conference victory at Tennessee Tech, picking up a 55-14 win in the opening game of the annual Sergeant York Trophy Series.

The Skyhawks (4-2, 3-0 OVC) remained unbeaten in league play with their third consecutive victory while dominating every phase of the game. UT Martin would score a total of seven touchdowns while adding a pair of field goals to cap off an evening in which the team tallied a season-high 553 yards of total offense. The Skyhawks also scored a season-high 55 points which ranked as the high scoring output against an OVC foe since 2014 against Murray State.

UT Martin is 3-0 in OVC play for the first time since 2006 and just the second time in program history. The win also moved the Skyhawks to 1-0 in the highly-contested Sgt. York Trophy series. Overall, the Skyhawks are 26-11 all-time against foes of the quadrangular season series between the four OVC football-playing schools located in the state of Tennessee.

On the defensive side, UT Martin held a dangerous Tennessee Tech offense which entered the game averaging 37 points per game to a season-low 14 points and just 261 yards of total offense. Additionally, the Skyhawks held the Golden Eagles to just 92 rushing yards which marked the fourth time this season in which the defense held its opponent to less than 100 yards on the ground.

"It was a great team effort," UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson said. "This game started on Monday as our guys really attacked it and our coaches had good game plans. The kids bought in and we went to work. We had a good game plan, came out and executed it. We are starting to find our identity on offense and see some play makers emerge. I'm very excited about how we continue to grow. I'm proud of the fact that this team has bought into the fact that as this team has success, individual rewards will come and that is how we have to keep this thing going."

Gallery: (10/12/2019) Football at Tennessee Tech

Leading the offensive charge was the play of freshman quarterback John Bachus III who put on a show by completing 16-of-22 pass attempts for 331 yards and five touchdowns – with the later both ranking as career-highs. Bachus would find eight different receivers in the contest while averaging 20.7 yards per completion.

Pacing the air raid offense was sophomore receiver Colton Dowell with five receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns – including a 73-yard reception on the opening play of the second half. Freshman receiver Kevin Butler made his collegiate debut by making the most of his two receptions for 45 yards while recording a pair of touchdowns. Junior Marqwell Odom also found the endzone on a shovel pass which he took 66 yards for his first career touchdown.

On the ground attack, junior running back Peyton Logan tallied his third 100-yard rushing performance of the season by tallying eight carries for 107 yards and a touchdown. Joining in the action was graduate Jaimiee Bowe who broke free on the Skyhawks final drive with a 25-yard touchdown to record his 20th career score to move into a tie for fourth in program history.

Senior linebacker TJ Jefferson paced the defensive unit with 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks which accounted for 21 yards of loss. Jefferson was joined in double figures by Cecil Cherry and Takeem Young which both tallied 10 tackles on the night. As a whole, UT Martin would tally six sacks on the evening from the quartet of Jefferson, Julian Crutchfield (1.5), Korbin Harmon (1.0) and Kenyonte Davis (1.0). Then registering the lone turnover of the night was Tamel McCall which recorded his first career interception to set up a scoring drive.

Specialist Ryan Courtright remained perfect in kicking attempts on the season by making both field goal opportunities from 30 and 45 yards while also converting on all seven PATs. Graduate punter Zane Cox would be rarely used but was effective when his name was called, booting a pair of punts for an average of 43.5 yards – including a 49-yard punt on the first drive of the game.

UT Martin will return to action with a home matchup against Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 19. Action from Hardy Graham Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.