UT MARTIN FOOTBALL CLAIMS A PIECE OF THE SGT. YORK TROPHY WITH A 40-7 WIN OVER TENNESSEE TECH IN SEASON FINALE

Sunday, April 11

Martin, Tenn.

3 p.m.

UT Martin

3-4 , 3-4

Tennessee Tech

2-5 , 2-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tennessee Tech

UT Martin

UT MARTIN FOOTBALL CLAIMS A PIECE OF THE SGT. YORK TROPHY WITH A 40-7 WIN OVER TENNESSEE TECH IN SEASON FINALE

4/11/2021 9:37:00 PM | Football

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MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin football team saved its best for last, posting season highs in several categories in its regular season finale to knock off Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee Tech 40-7 and claim a piece of the highly contest Sergeant York Trophy.

The Skyhawks finished the 2020-21 campaign battered and bruised but not broken, putting every phase of the game together for a thrilling victory. While the team has been ravaged by injuries and narrow defeats over the past several weeks, the squad did not opt-out but rather came together for its best all-around showing of the abbreviated season in the regular season finale.

UT Martin posted season-highs in total points (40), total offense (436 yards) and passing yards (327) while eclipsing the 100-yard rushing mark for the second time this season and equaling it's season-highs in both total touchdowns (four) and passing touchdowns (three). The Skyhawks also forced three turnovers for only the second time this season while tallying their sixth blocked kick this year which leads the nation.

With the win, UT Martin claimed a piece of the Sgt. York Trophy for the eighth time in series history. Overall, the Skyhawks have either won the trophy outright or shared a piece of the trophy in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 while improving their overall record to 29-13 in the all-time series – the best mark of the four programs.

FB: With today's @UTM_FOOTBALL win, the Skyhawks claim yet another piece of the Sgt. York Trophy for the EIGHTH time! The Skyhawks boast a 29-13 mark in the all-time series which ranks as the best record amongst the four programs. #MartinMade pic.twitter.com/76o6CMPzv8
— UT Martin Athletics (@UTMSports) April 12, 2021

Quarterback John Bachus III played a big part in the team's success by completing 71 percent of his pass attempts (22-of-31) for 265 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon. Bachus found seven different receivers and completed 10 passes of 10 yards or more, including touchdown passes totaling 50, 19 and 34 yards, respectively.

Junior wide receiver Colton Dowell led the pack with six catches for 105 yards and one touchdown – including a 50-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. Senior tight end Rodney Williams also caught six passes totaling 67 yards. Peyton Logan, Kevin Butler and Richie Griglione III each contributed in the passing game with touchdown receptions while redshirt-freshman Zak Wallace paced the ground attack with 10 carries for 48 yards and his first career rushing touchdown.

Tyler Larco capped off a promising start to his career by adding to his scoring total with a pair of field goals. Larco booted attempts from 29 and 36 yards in the second half while converting 4-of-5 PAT tries to bring his season scoring total to 47.

Linebacker John Ford paced the Skyhawk defensive effort with eight tackles on the afternoon while safety Deven Sims tallied seven tackles. Fellow safety Takeem Young made an impact all over the field, tallying six tackles on the afternoon while notching a pair of interceptions – along with 42 return yards – while also breaking up two passes.

Gallery: (4-11-2021) Football vs. Tennessee Tech

"I am very proud of our program." UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson said. "We have had three losses by a total 11 points this season. That's one thing we have talked about all week, 'how do we find those 11 points?'. This team has played hard every week. We have had multiple injuries and they could have laid down. This is the first win for next season, and it is big to get a piece of the Sgt. York Trophy. I am very proud of this football team and it is a great win. This leaves a great taste in our mouths and we will certainly enjoy this as we get ready for the fall."

After dropping the last two contests by a total of seven points, UT Martin looked for an early spark to gain an edge in the contest and found just what it needed. While the Skyhawks opening drive got off to a rocky start with their punt being blocked, the home team's defense responded by forcing a three-and-out of their own before Tech tried to settle for a field goal. The Skyhawks were resilient tallying their sixth blocked kick of the season as Oshae Baker broke through to bat the attempt and give the ball back to the offense.

With a new bit of energy in the air, the Skyhawks used some trickery on their second drive of the game. After moving into Tech territory, Bachus tossed a lateral over to the left side to find freshman Andrew Henley near the sideline who then quickly found a streaking Logan in stride downfield for a 39-yard touchdown strike to put the Skyhawks on the board 6-0 with just over six minutes into the contest.

The Skyhawks added to their margin later in the quarter after the defense forced a three-and-out. With prime field position to start the drive on the 50-yard line, UT Martin needed just 14 seconds to find the endzone. On second and 10, Bachus found Dowell in the flats where the playmaker made his defender miss before sprinting down the sideline for the 50-yard touchdown.

Another defensive stand set up a scoring drive early in the second quarter. Tennessee Tech approached midfield before JaQuez Akins stripped Jordan Brown for a fumble and D'Carrious Stephens pounced on it for his first career fumble recovery. The Skyhawk offense enjoyed the nice field position and swiftly moved down field on back-to-back pass completions from Bachus to Dowell and Williams for 16 and 19 yards, respectively, to set-up first and goal. Once inside the ball went to Wallace who controlled the ground attack and punched it in for his first touchdown to make it 20-0.

The score would remain the same coming out of halftime until Young made another impressive defensive play as his first interception of the afternoon came in the third quarter. After his 36-yard return put the Skyhawks in the redzone, it took Bachus just one play to find Griglione in the endzone for a 19-yard touchdown to give UT Martin a 27-point advantage.

UT Martin would add 10 more points in the third quarter as Larco connected on his first field goal of the day with 1:10 to play, booting a 29-yard attempt. The Skyhawk defense then posted a quick four-down stand to force the Golden Eagles to turn it over on downs and regain possession on the Tech 34 with five seconds to play in the period. Five seconds would be plenty of time however as Bachus found Butler for a 34-yard touchdown as time expired to take a 37-0 lead heading into the fourth.

The Skyhawks turned the game over to their reserves with an opportunity to give them quality game reps in the fourth quarter. Redshirt-freshman quarterback Stewart Howell would complete 4-of-5 pass attempts in the fourth for 20 yards while true-freshman Trey Fisher also saw limited time under center where he completed both pass attempts. The Skyhawks would add on three more points in the period following Young's second interception of the game as Larco split the uprights with a 36-yard attempt with 7:45 to play.

Tennessee Tech ruined UT Martin's shutout effort with a late score as Willie Miller found Quinton Cross for a 22-yard touchdown over the middle with 55 seconds to play. Miller completed 21-of-44 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown while throwing two interceptions. Cross led the Golden Eagles with eight catches for 101 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Marcus McMeans paced the team with 15 tackles and one pass breakup.