Saturday, December 4
Bozeman, Mont.
3 p.m.
UT Martin
at
Montana State
NO. 13 SKYHAWKS HEAD OUT WEST FOR SECOND ROUND AT EIGHT-SEED MONTANA STATE
11/30/2021 9:39:00 AM | Football
**Jason Simpson's Weekly Press Conference is below**
Fresh off winning the first playoff game in the program's Division I Era, the University of Tennessee at Martin football team will continue its run in the 2021 NCAA Division I Championship with a second round matchup against eighth-seeded Montana State on Saturday, Dec. 4. Kickoff from Bobcat Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Skyhawks (10-2) enter the matchup ranked 13th in the AFCA Coaches' Poll and as one of the hottest teams in the country having won nine of their last 10 contests. UT Martin recorded its third postseason victory in program history and first in the Division I Era with a 32-31 win over Missouri State in the first round of the FCS playoffs, joining wins in the 1967 Tangerine Bowl and 1988 Division II playoffs.
UT Martin gritted out a road victory in its first round road matchup against No. 10 Missouri State behind a flurry of forced turnovers and impressive play by offensive veterans. The Skyhawks forced a season-high six turnovers in the contest – ranking as the highest single game total since 2016 – with three fumble recoveries and three interceptions. Then on offense graduate quarterback Dresser Winn garnered his first start since 2018 and threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns while finding receiver Donnell Williams seven times for 178 yards and a touchdown – including the eventual game-winning 37-yard connection with 3:36 to play.
The Skyhawks rank amongst national leaders in several statistical categories, including five top-10 positions. UT Martin ranks first in blocked punts allowed (zero), fourth in interceptions (17), seventh in sacks allowed (1.0 per game), eighth in rushing offense (219.4 ypg) and ninth in winning percentage (83.3 percent). Additionally, the Skyhawks enter the contest ranked in the top-two of league statistics in 23 team categories while players rank amongst leaders in 31 individual leaderboards.
Skyhawk head coach Jason Simpson earned his 100th career victory last weekend in the win over Missouri State along with his first postseason victory. Simpson – a finalist for the 2021 Eddie Robinson Award presented to the national FCS coach of the year – is UT Martin's all-time wins leader while ranking fourth in Ohio Valley Conference history.
Montana State (9-2) earned the eight-seed in the championship field after finishing as league runner-up in the Big Sky with a 7-1 mark. The Bobcats are under first-year head coach Brent Vigen who is also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award. Very similar to the Skyhawks, the Bobcats won nine consecutive games in the regular season before dropping their regular season finale to league rival Montana.
The Bobcats boast the third ranked scoring defense in the country by allowing just 13.2 points per game while averaging 218.5 rushing yards per game to rank ninth. Quarterback Matthew McKay has completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 2,021 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions. Running back Isaiah Ifanse ranks fourth nationally with 1,258 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while Lance McCutcheon has 50 receptions for 904 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, Troy Anderson paces the team with 114 tackles while Daniel Hardy has recorded 17.5 tackles for loss.
Saturday marks the first meeting between the two programs.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst) calling the action. Fans can also tune into WCMT Radio 1410 AM/100.5 FM to hear John Hatler (play-by-play), Andy Collins (analyst) and Derek Carr (analyst) for the radio broadcast. Those links – in addition to live stats – can be found at the top of the page.
Fresh off winning the first playoff game in the program's Division I Era, the University of Tennessee at Martin football team will continue its run in the 2021 NCAA Division I Championship with a second round matchup against eighth-seeded Montana State on Saturday, Dec. 4. Kickoff from Bobcat Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Skyhawks (10-2) enter the matchup ranked 13th in the AFCA Coaches' Poll and as one of the hottest teams in the country having won nine of their last 10 contests. UT Martin recorded its third postseason victory in program history and first in the Division I Era with a 32-31 win over Missouri State in the first round of the FCS playoffs, joining wins in the 1967 Tangerine Bowl and 1988 Division II playoffs.
UT Martin gritted out a road victory in its first round road matchup against No. 10 Missouri State behind a flurry of forced turnovers and impressive play by offensive veterans. The Skyhawks forced a season-high six turnovers in the contest – ranking as the highest single game total since 2016 – with three fumble recoveries and three interceptions. Then on offense graduate quarterback Dresser Winn garnered his first start since 2018 and threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns while finding receiver Donnell Williams seven times for 178 yards and a touchdown – including the eventual game-winning 37-yard connection with 3:36 to play.
The Skyhawks rank amongst national leaders in several statistical categories, including five top-10 positions. UT Martin ranks first in blocked punts allowed (zero), fourth in interceptions (17), seventh in sacks allowed (1.0 per game), eighth in rushing offense (219.4 ypg) and ninth in winning percentage (83.3 percent). Additionally, the Skyhawks enter the contest ranked in the top-two of league statistics in 23 team categories while players rank amongst leaders in 31 individual leaderboards.
Skyhawk head coach Jason Simpson earned his 100th career victory last weekend in the win over Missouri State along with his first postseason victory. Simpson – a finalist for the 2021 Eddie Robinson Award presented to the national FCS coach of the year – is UT Martin's all-time wins leader while ranking fourth in Ohio Valley Conference history.
Montana State (9-2) earned the eight-seed in the championship field after finishing as league runner-up in the Big Sky with a 7-1 mark. The Bobcats are under first-year head coach Brent Vigen who is also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award. Very similar to the Skyhawks, the Bobcats won nine consecutive games in the regular season before dropping their regular season finale to league rival Montana.
The Bobcats boast the third ranked scoring defense in the country by allowing just 13.2 points per game while averaging 218.5 rushing yards per game to rank ninth. Quarterback Matthew McKay has completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 2,021 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions. Running back Isaiah Ifanse ranks fourth nationally with 1,258 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while Lance McCutcheon has 50 receptions for 904 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, Troy Anderson paces the team with 114 tackles while Daniel Hardy has recorded 17.5 tackles for loss.
Saturday marks the first meeting between the two programs.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst) calling the action. Fans can also tune into WCMT Radio 1410 AM/100.5 FM to hear John Hatler (play-by-play), Andy Collins (analyst) and Derek Carr (analyst) for the radio broadcast. Those links – in addition to live stats – can be found at the top of the page.
Players Mentioned
WR
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