Saturday, September 30
Martin, Tenn.
6 pm
UT Martin
vs
Tennessee State
NO. 22 RANKED SKYHAWKS PLAY HOST TO TENNESSEE STATE IN HALL OF FAME GAME
9/25/2023 3:00:00 PM | Football
*Weekly Interview with Jason Simpson is available below*
The No. 22 ranked University of Tennessee at Martin football team returns home to Hardy M. Graham Stadium to play host to in-state rival Tennessee State in the team's annual Hall of Fame Game on Saturday, Sept. 30. Kickoff for the Big South-OVC Football Association opener is slated for 6 p.m.
Prior to the contest, five standouts will be enshrined in the 39th class in the history of the UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame, which was initiated in 1983. The UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 includes Alex Atkins (football, 2003-06), the late Oscar Bunch (football, 1990-91), Brendon Caballero (golf, 2011-15), Carly Gonzales (softball, 2014-17) and Wes Patterson (baseball, 2008-11).
The Skyhawks (3-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) enter league play having won back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference championships in 2021 and 2022. Over the past two seasons, UT Martin has gone 10-1 in conference action – including the program's first undefeated season in 2022.
Saturday's contest marks the opening of the 17th annual Sgt. York Trophy Series which goes to the winner of the season football series between the OVC schools located in the state of Tennessee - including Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and UT Martin. The Skyhawks have claimed the Sgt. York Trophy every year since 2018 and 10 times overall while the program boast a 35-13 record in the series - the best mark of the three school.
Under the direction of head coach Jason Simpson, the Skyhawks have taken pride in winning games against in-state opponents. Since 2014, the Skyhawks have posted a 23-8 record against in-state foes while possessing the second-best overall winning percentage of all Division I programs in the state (FBS and FCS) since 2010 at 55.8 percent.
UT Martin jumped into the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll with the 22nd ranking nationally while also sitting among FCS leaders in several categories, including an offense which ranks third nationally in rushing offense (278.8 ypg), fourth in total offense (489.8 ypg) and 12th in scoring offense (37.0 ppg) while the defense ranks seventh in tackles for loss (8.5 per game) and 15th in rushing defense (100.0 ypg). The Skyhawks are averaging 47.0 points per game against FCS opponents while posting an average margin of victory of 27.3 points in the last three matchups.Â
The Skyhawks produced a pair of Big South-OVC Football Players of the Week following strong performances by running back Sam Franklin and linebacker Chris Hunter, Jr. The nation's leader in rushing yards, Franklin posted his second 200-yard rushing performance of the season while adding two long touchdowns in the win. Meanwhile, Hunter racked up six tackles and a game-clinching interception to cap off a 27-point comeback.
Tennessee State (2-1, 1-0 Big South-OVC) enters the contest coming off a bye week following a 27-25 victory over Gardner-Webb back on Sept. 16. Place kicker James Lowery nailed a career-long 50-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining to lift the squad to victory and earn Big South-OVC Specialist of the Week honors. The Tigers rank 11th nationally in red zone defense with a 70 percent rating while averaging 292 yards per game of total offense.
This marks the 33rd meeting between the two programs with Tennessee State holding an 18-14 advantage in the all-time series. UT Martin has been strong in the series at home, winning four straight in Hardy Graham Stadium against Tennessee State, with the Tigers last win coming in 2013.
The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ while fans locally can tune into the Skyhawk Sports Network to hear Davis Gregory (play-by-play), John Hatler (analyst) and Chris Brinkley (analyst) call the action. Games are broadcast on WCMT "Talk and News You Can Use!" with simulcasts on 1410 AM, 100.5 FM, 92.7 FM, 96.1 FM, 99.7 FM and 103.3 FM. Those links – in addition to live stats – can be found at the top of the page.
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The No. 22 ranked University of Tennessee at Martin football team returns home to Hardy M. Graham Stadium to play host to in-state rival Tennessee State in the team's annual Hall of Fame Game on Saturday, Sept. 30. Kickoff for the Big South-OVC Football Association opener is slated for 6 p.m.
Prior to the contest, five standouts will be enshrined in the 39th class in the history of the UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame, which was initiated in 1983. The UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 includes Alex Atkins (football, 2003-06), the late Oscar Bunch (football, 1990-91), Brendon Caballero (golf, 2011-15), Carly Gonzales (softball, 2014-17) and Wes Patterson (baseball, 2008-11).
The Skyhawks (3-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) enter league play having won back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference championships in 2021 and 2022. Over the past two seasons, UT Martin has gone 10-1 in conference action – including the program's first undefeated season in 2022.
Saturday's contest marks the opening of the 17th annual Sgt. York Trophy Series which goes to the winner of the season football series between the OVC schools located in the state of Tennessee - including Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and UT Martin. The Skyhawks have claimed the Sgt. York Trophy every year since 2018 and 10 times overall while the program boast a 35-13 record in the series - the best mark of the three school.
Under the direction of head coach Jason Simpson, the Skyhawks have taken pride in winning games against in-state opponents. Since 2014, the Skyhawks have posted a 23-8 record against in-state foes while possessing the second-best overall winning percentage of all Division I programs in the state (FBS and FCS) since 2010 at 55.8 percent.
UT Martin jumped into the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll with the 22nd ranking nationally while also sitting among FCS leaders in several categories, including an offense which ranks third nationally in rushing offense (278.8 ypg), fourth in total offense (489.8 ypg) and 12th in scoring offense (37.0 ppg) while the defense ranks seventh in tackles for loss (8.5 per game) and 15th in rushing defense (100.0 ypg). The Skyhawks are averaging 47.0 points per game against FCS opponents while posting an average margin of victory of 27.3 points in the last three matchups.Â
The Skyhawks produced a pair of Big South-OVC Football Players of the Week following strong performances by running back Sam Franklin and linebacker Chris Hunter, Jr. The nation's leader in rushing yards, Franklin posted his second 200-yard rushing performance of the season while adding two long touchdowns in the win. Meanwhile, Hunter racked up six tackles and a game-clinching interception to cap off a 27-point comeback.
Tennessee State (2-1, 1-0 Big South-OVC) enters the contest coming off a bye week following a 27-25 victory over Gardner-Webb back on Sept. 16. Place kicker James Lowery nailed a career-long 50-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining to lift the squad to victory and earn Big South-OVC Specialist of the Week honors. The Tigers rank 11th nationally in red zone defense with a 70 percent rating while averaging 292 yards per game of total offense.
This marks the 33rd meeting between the two programs with Tennessee State holding an 18-14 advantage in the all-time series. UT Martin has been strong in the series at home, winning four straight in Hardy Graham Stadium against Tennessee State, with the Tigers last win coming in 2013.
The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ while fans locally can tune into the Skyhawk Sports Network to hear Davis Gregory (play-by-play), John Hatler (analyst) and Chris Brinkley (analyst) call the action. Games are broadcast on WCMT "Talk and News You Can Use!" with simulcasts on 1410 AM, 100.5 FM, 92.7 FM, 96.1 FM, 99.7 FM and 103.3 FM. Those links – in addition to live stats – can be found at the top of the page.
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Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
LB
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