UT MARTIN FOOTBALL SET FOR FIRST-PLACE CLASH AT NATIONALLY RANKED AUSTIN PEAY

Watch this week's press conference with UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson by clicking the above video.

The University of Tennessee at Martin football team will go head-to-head in a matchup of first place teams in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a contest at nationally ranked No. 24 Austin Peay on Saturday, Nov. 9. Kickoff from Fortera Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+.

The Skyhawks (6-3, 5-1 OVC) sit atop the OVC standings with five league victories while the Governors (6-3, 4-1 OVC) equal the visitors in the loss column. While UT Martin's lone hiccup during conference play has been a road loss to nationally ranked No. 24 Southeast Missouri, Austin Peay has defended its home turf well this year, dispatching both No. 20 Southeast Missouri and No. 11 Jacksonville State on back-to-back weeks earlier this season.

Saturday's game marks the second of three games in the coveted Sergeant York Trophy series which goes to the winner of the quadrangular season football series between the four OVC football-playing schools located in the state of Tennessee – Austin Peay, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and UT Martin. UT Martin has won or shared the Sgt. York Trophy six times in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. The Skyhawks hold a 26-10 all-time record in the series – the best mark of the four Tennessee OVC schools. That includes a 17-4 mark since 2012.

UT Martin is riding high off a Homecoming victory against No. 18 ranked Jacksonville State its last time out. The victory marked the first over the visiting Gamecocks since 2012 and first win over a ranked opponent since knocking off No. 20 Austin Peay last season. The Skyhawks were rewarded individually for their effort as the trio of John Bachus III (Offensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week), Cecil Cherry (Defensive Player of the Week) and Terry Williams (Newcomer of the Week) swept the OVC weekly honors for the first time since joining the league in 1992.

For Skyhawk head coach Jason Simpson, the win over No. 18 Jacksonville State was historic. The victory marked the 86^th win in his 14-year career to assume the program's all-time wins mark previously held by Bob Carroll (1957-74).

Austin Peay has won four of its last five contests with its lone outlier coming against Tennessee State. The Governors lead the conference in scoring offense (38.0 ppg), total offense (435.4 ypg), pass efficiency (162.7) and third down conversions. Senior quarterback JaVaughn Craig paces the league by averaging 305.6 yards of total offense per game and pass efficiency (167.1) while ranking second in passing average (257.2 ypg). As a whole, Craig has thrown for 17 touchdowns while rushing for six. Fellow playmakers Kentel Williams (126 carries, 633 yards and six touchdowns) along with DeAngelo Wilson (52 receptions, 966 yards and nine touchdowns) round out the explosive offense.

This matchup marks the 68^th meeting between the two foes in series history dating back to 1930. UT Martin holds a 39-26-2 advantage in the series while winning 10 of the last 11 contests. The lone setback came on the road in 2017 when the Govs outlasted the No. 18 ranked Skyhawks 7-0.

The game will be televised live on ESPN+. Fans can also tune into WCMT 1410 AM/100.5 FM to hear Tom Britt (play-by-play), John Hatler (color) and John Abel (sideline) provide analysis. Links for the radio broadcast, along with live stats can be accessed through their respective links above.

UT MARTIN FOOTBALL SET FOR FIRST-PLACE CLASH AT NATIONALLY RANKED AUSTIN PEAY

Next Event

Players Mentioned

John Bachus III

Cecil Cherry

Terry Williams