Sunday, February 28
Murray, Ky.
2 p.m.
UT Martin
at
Murray State
UT MARTIN FOOTBALL SET FOR SHORT TREK TO MURRAY STATE FOR SEASON OPENER ON SUNDAY
2/24/2021 10:50:00 AM | Football
The University of Tennessee at Martin football team will officially end its 472-day hiatus from competition with the opening of its 2020-21 campaign against Ohio Valley Conference regional rival Murray State on Sunday, Feb. 28. Kickoff from Stewart Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
UT Martin will open its 92nd season of football and 29th as a Division I program in 2020-21. The Skyhawks are looking to improve upon their 11-3 mark in OVC openers under the direction of head coach Jason Simpson.
The Skyhawks (0-0, 0-0 OVC) enter the season coming off a 7-5 record in 2019 while finishing 6-2 in league play. UT Martin boasts four Preseason All-OVC selections in running back Peyton Logan (109 carries, 784 yards, six TDs), wide receiver/tight end Colton Dowell (38 receptions, 765 yards, four TDs), defensive tackle Austin Pickett (38 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks) and safety JaQuez Akins (92 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 6 PBU). The Skyhawks also feature 2019 OVC Freshman of the Year John Bachus III at quarterback who completed 188-of-332 pass attempts for 2,549 yards and 18 touchdowns.
UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson enters his 15th season at the helm of the Skyhawks as the program's all-time wins leader and the league's longest tenured head coach. Simpson boasts an all-time mark of 87-73 and ranks sixth in OVC history in career victories.
Murray State (0-0, 0-0 OVC) enters its first year under head coach Dean Hood with a career record of 55-38. While this is Hood's first year with the Racers, he is no stranger to the OVC after previously serving as head coach at Eastern Kentucky for eight years from 2008-15 where he won two league titles (2008 and 2011) and earned three FCS Playoff berths (2008, 2011 and 2014).
The Racers return their quarterback Preston Rice who started in all 12 games last season, throwing for 2,932 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for over 600 yards and a pair of scores. The squad also welcomes back a pair of Preseason All-OVC receivers in LaMartez Brooks (47 catches, 819 yards and seven touchdowns) and Malik Honeycutt who missed the previous season due to injury. On defense, the top returning tackler is Alec Long with 52 tackles – including 6.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks – while Marcis Floyd led the secondary with two interceptions and five pass breakups.
Sunday's contest marks the 60th meeting between the two programs in a series which originated in 1924. Murray State holds a 37-21-1 overall lead in the series but UT Martin has won 11 of the last 14 meetings.
UT Martin will open its 92nd season of football and 29th as a Division I program in 2020-21. The Skyhawks are looking to improve upon their 11-3 mark in OVC openers under the direction of head coach Jason Simpson.
The Skyhawks (0-0, 0-0 OVC) enter the season coming off a 7-5 record in 2019 while finishing 6-2 in league play. UT Martin boasts four Preseason All-OVC selections in running back Peyton Logan (109 carries, 784 yards, six TDs), wide receiver/tight end Colton Dowell (38 receptions, 765 yards, four TDs), defensive tackle Austin Pickett (38 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks) and safety JaQuez Akins (92 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 6 PBU). The Skyhawks also feature 2019 OVC Freshman of the Year John Bachus III at quarterback who completed 188-of-332 pass attempts for 2,549 yards and 18 touchdowns.
UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson enters his 15th season at the helm of the Skyhawks as the program's all-time wins leader and the league's longest tenured head coach. Simpson boasts an all-time mark of 87-73 and ranks sixth in OVC history in career victories.
Murray State (0-0, 0-0 OVC) enters its first year under head coach Dean Hood with a career record of 55-38. While this is Hood's first year with the Racers, he is no stranger to the OVC after previously serving as head coach at Eastern Kentucky for eight years from 2008-15 where he won two league titles (2008 and 2011) and earned three FCS Playoff berths (2008, 2011 and 2014).
The Racers return their quarterback Preston Rice who started in all 12 games last season, throwing for 2,932 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for over 600 yards and a pair of scores. The squad also welcomes back a pair of Preseason All-OVC receivers in LaMartez Brooks (47 catches, 819 yards and seven touchdowns) and Malik Honeycutt who missed the previous season due to injury. On defense, the top returning tackler is Alec Long with 52 tackles – including 6.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks – while Marcis Floyd led the secondary with two interceptions and five pass breakups.
Sunday's contest marks the 60th meeting between the two programs in a series which originated in 1924. Murray State holds a 37-21-1 overall lead in the series but UT Martin has won 11 of the last 14 meetings.
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