Saturday, October 7
Charleston, Ill.
2 pm
UT Martin
5-1 , 2-0
28
at
27
Eastern Illinois
4-2 , 0-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
OT
F
UT Martin
0
7
7
7
7
28
Eastern Ill.
7
7
0
7
6
27
NO. 18 UT MARTIN FOOTBALL REELS OFF FIFTH STRAIGHT VICTORY, OUTLASTING NO. 25 EASTERN ILLINOIS IN OVERTIME THRILLER
10/7/2023 7:42:00 PM | Football
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Today's matchup between two nationally ranked Football Championship Subdivision conference rivals came down to the final play as the University of Tennessee at Martin prevailed in an overtime thriller, 28-27 at Eastern Illinois.
The No. 18 ranked Skyhawks forced overtime after Jarid Johnson rose high above the crowd to block a potential game-winning 40-yard field goal try as time expired in regulation. UT Martin received the ball to open overtime and struck first as Kinkead Dent hit Max Dowling for a seven-yard scoring strike, the second touchdown of the game for the redshirt freshman tight end out of Buffalo, NY.
Entering the contest boasting their first national ranking of the season, the No. 25 Panthers pulled to within one with a touchdown on the ensuing possession. Eastern Illinois went for the win with a two-point conversion but the Skyhawk defense stood their ground as the pass attempt was no good thanks to a pass breakup from Carson Evans.
Gallery: (10-7-2023) Football at Eastern Illinois
The blocked kick and overtime stand highlighted another stellar effort by the staunch UT Martin defense, who allowed only 32 rushing yards on 28 carries. Daylan Dotson was the star of the show as the junior defensive end out of Savannah, Ga. piled up game-highs of seven tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, a pair of pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. Chris Hunter, Jr. had a big interception to set up the Skyhawks' first scoring drive of the day while Giovanni Davis and Charles Perkins each recorded sacks.
UT Martin (5-1, 2-0 Big South-OVC) scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground and two through the air. Dowling's scoring receptions were the first of his collegiate career as he was the first Skyhawk to haul in multiple touchdowns in a game in over a calendar year (DJ Nelson against Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2022).
DeVonte Tanksley posted a team-best four receptions while Trevonte Rucker accumulated a team-high 46 receiving yards. Sam Franklin (game-high 54 rushing yards on nine carries) and Narkel LeFlore (10 rushes, 45 yards) each found the endzone while Dent finished with 232 yards of total offense (182 passing, 50 rushing on a team-high 11 carries).
On special teams, Aidan Laros constantly faced swirling 14-mph winds to boom seven punts for an average of 50.6 yards – continually flipping the field for the Skyhawks.
The Panthers (4-2, 0-1 Big South-OVC) were led by Pierce Holley as the transfer from Georgetown threw for 359 yards and four touchdowns. Eli Mirza managed game-highs of 10 receptions, 119 receiving yards and a score while two of Justin Bowick's five catches went for touchdowns. Justin Thomas also caught a score while Russell Dandy tied Dotson with a game-high seven tackles to guide Eastern Illinois on the defensive side of the ball.
UT Martin's bye week is next on the schedule as the Skyhawks will rest up before returning to the gridiron on Saturday, Oct. 21 against league foe Charleston Southern. Kickoff from Hardy Graham Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
The No. 18 ranked Skyhawks forced overtime after Jarid Johnson rose high above the crowd to block a potential game-winning 40-yard field goal try as time expired in regulation. UT Martin received the ball to open overtime and struck first as Kinkead Dent hit Max Dowling for a seven-yard scoring strike, the second touchdown of the game for the redshirt freshman tight end out of Buffalo, NY.
Entering the contest boasting their first national ranking of the season, the No. 25 Panthers pulled to within one with a touchdown on the ensuing possession. Eastern Illinois went for the win with a two-point conversion but the Skyhawk defense stood their ground as the pass attempt was no good thanks to a pass breakup from Carson Evans.
The blocked kick and overtime stand highlighted another stellar effort by the staunch UT Martin defense, who allowed only 32 rushing yards on 28 carries. Daylan Dotson was the star of the show as the junior defensive end out of Savannah, Ga. piled up game-highs of seven tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, a pair of pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. Chris Hunter, Jr. had a big interception to set up the Skyhawks' first scoring drive of the day while Giovanni Davis and Charles Perkins each recorded sacks.
UT Martin (5-1, 2-0 Big South-OVC) scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground and two through the air. Dowling's scoring receptions were the first of his collegiate career as he was the first Skyhawk to haul in multiple touchdowns in a game in over a calendar year (DJ Nelson against Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2022).
DeVonte Tanksley posted a team-best four receptions while Trevonte Rucker accumulated a team-high 46 receiving yards. Sam Franklin (game-high 54 rushing yards on nine carries) and Narkel LeFlore (10 rushes, 45 yards) each found the endzone while Dent finished with 232 yards of total offense (182 passing, 50 rushing on a team-high 11 carries).
On special teams, Aidan Laros constantly faced swirling 14-mph winds to boom seven punts for an average of 50.6 yards – continually flipping the field for the Skyhawks.
The Panthers (4-2, 0-1 Big South-OVC) were led by Pierce Holley as the transfer from Georgetown threw for 359 yards and four touchdowns. Eli Mirza managed game-highs of 10 receptions, 119 receiving yards and a score while two of Justin Bowick's five catches went for touchdowns. Justin Thomas also caught a score while Russell Dandy tied Dotson with a game-high seven tackles to guide Eastern Illinois on the defensive side of the ball.
UT Martin's bye week is next on the schedule as the Skyhawks will rest up before returning to the gridiron on Saturday, Oct. 21 against league foe Charleston Southern. Kickoff from Hardy Graham Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
Team Stats
UTM
EIU
Total Yards
345
391
Pass Yards
182
359
Rushing Yards
163
32
Penalty Yards
114
58
1st Downs
16
22
3rd Downs
6
7
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
27:14
32:46
1st Quarter
UTM 0, EIU 7
EIU - Bowick,Justin 13 yd pass from Holley,Pierce (Galloway,Stone kick) 9 plays, 78 yards, TOP 03:45
2nd Quarter
UTM 7, EIU 7
UTM - Franklin,Sam 4 yd run (Laros,Aidan kick), 1 plays, 4 yards, TOP 00:06
UTM 7, EIU 14
EIU - Mirza,Eli 10 yd pass from Holley,Pierce (Galloway,Stone kick) 5 plays, 36 yards, TOP 00:25
3rd Quarter
UTM 14, EIU 14
UTM - Dowling,Max 9 yd pass from Dent,Kinkead (Laros,Aidan kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:11
4th Quarter
UTM 21, EIU 14
UTM - Leflore,Narkel 2 yd run (Laros,Aidan kick), 17 plays, 77 yards, TOP 07:48
UTM 21, EIU 21
EIU - Bowick,Justin 14 yd pass from Holley,Pierce (Galloway,Stone kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:10
OT Quarter
UTM 28, EIU 21
UTM - Dowling,Max 7 yd pass from Dent,Kinkead (Laros,Aidan kick) 4 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
UTM 28, EIU 27
EIU - Thomas,Justin 21 yd pass from Holley,Pierce () 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
16
TD
2
YDS
182
INT
1
Players Mentioned
DT
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
TE
/ Football
S
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
NT
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
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