SKYHAWKS PACK OFFENSIVE PUNCH IN SECOND FOOTBALL SCRIMMMAGE OF FALL CAMP

MARTIN, Tenn. – On the final official day of preseason camp before school starts and regular season practice gets underway, the University of Tennessee at Martin football team hit the gridiron of Hardy M. Graham Stadium for the team's second scrimmage on Saturday afternoon.

After the defense packed a big punch in the first scrimmage with multiple turnovers, the offense hit them with a counterpunch this afternoon as the three offensive units combined for 605 yards of total offense – including 412 passing yards and 193 rushing yards – while putting seven touchdowns on the board.

"Obviously the offense got the better of the defense today but it was good," UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson said. "We got some man-coverage and blitz situations. I think it came down to which players decided to come through and push through. It has been a grind with 16 practices, all of the walk-throughs and weights. I give the offensive kids credit for pushing through and making a few plays while the defense was still able to get some stops."

Leading the offense was the quarterback tandem of Keon Howard and Stewart Howell. Howard, the presumed Week 1 starter, completed 15-of-23 pass attempts for 206 yards while passing for one touchdown. He also lived up to his dual-threat billing by tallying a pair of rushing touchdowns of one and 11 yards. Howell is the leader for the backup roll at the moment after completing 9-of-15 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns. True freshman Josh Lundy also received work in which he tallied two completions for 25 yards and a touchdown.

Nine different players recorded carries on the afternoon while flirting with the 200-yard mark. Maryland transfer Jordan Castleberry led the team with seven carries for 70 yards while Isaiah Gibbs (six carries, 24 yards) and Jarious Johnson (five carries, 32 yards) saw solid work in the backfield. Along with Howard's two rushing scores, true freshman Sam Franklin left his mark working with the first and second team by breaking loose for a 21-yard score.

11 different Skyhawks garnered receptions with Colton Dowell, Donnell Williams and Franklin leading the way with three receptions each. Dowell was highly effective by averaging 30.3 yards per catch while also hauling in a 47-yard touchdown. Freshman Zoe Roberts made the most of his two catches by tallying 120 receiving yards – including a 38-yard touchdown. The team's other touchdown reception came on an eight-yard connection from Lundy to Deray Lawrence.

On the defensive side, numerous Skyhawks contributed as 27 different players tallied tackles on the afternoon while also notching seven pass breakups, five tackles for loss and four hurries. Linebacker Chris Hunter paced the team with five stops on the day while D'Carrious Stephens was close behind with four tackles each.

Senior defensive end David DuBose tallied three tackles along with 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack. Three other players tallied sacks with Austin Pickett, Jermaine Cooley and Shamari Weir each notching one. Other top contributors include Tamel McCall and AJ Moss who tallied two pass breakups each.

Capping off the day's highlights were a pair of made field goals by Tyler Larco from 34 and 37 yards.

Scoring Drives

Keon Howard one-yard run
Colton Dowell 47-yard pass from Keon Howard
Zoe Roberts 38-yard pass from Stewart Howell
Deray Lawrence 8-yard pass from Josh Lundy
Tyler Larco 34-yard field goal
Sam Franklin 21-yard run
Tyler Larco 37-yard field goal
Keon Howard 11-yard run
Isaiah Gibbs 8-yard pass from Stewart Howell

Interviews

UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson

UT Martin wide receiver Marqwell Odom

UT Martin defensive end David DuBose