Fourth Quarter Heroics Lead Skyhawks To 32-31 Homecoming Victory Over Western Illinois

Saturday, October 11

Martin, Tenn.

2 p.m.

UT Martin

2-5 , 2-1

Western Illinois

1-6 , 0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Western Illinois

UT Martin

Fourth Quarter Heroics Lead Skyhawks To 32-31 Homecoming Victory Over Western Illinois

10/11/2025 7:28:00 PM | Football

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Clutch plays down the stretch lifted the University of Tennessee at Martin football squad as the Skyhawks outscored Western Illinois by a 12-0 margin in the fourth quarter on the way to a 32-31 triumph on Homecoming weekend.

Both teams held double-digit leads today as UT Martin went ahead 17-7 midway through the second quarter but it was the Leathernecks who held a 31-20 advantage through 45 minutes of play.

Jase Bauer scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter – the last of which came with 1:57 remaining for the Skyhawks' go-ahead score. Western Illinois was able to move the ball downfield for a potential game-winning field goal attempt with 44 seconds left. However, Lebron Edmond rose above the line to block the Leathernecks' 48-yard kick and seal the win, improving UT Martin to 2-1 in OVC-Big South play.

The Skyhawk offense rolled to 445 yards (245 passing, 200 rushing) and won the time of possession battle by a 36:33 to 23:37 margin. Bauer briefly left the game with an injury in the fourth quarter but returned to ignite UT Martin, finishing with 235 passing yards on a 19-of-28 completion rate and three total touchdowns. On the Skyhawks' final scoring drive, he hit Hyatt Timosciek (34 yards) and Phaizon Wilson (29 yards) for big gains before finishing off the drive with his fifth rushing touchdown in the last three weeks.

John Gentry doubled his previous season-high rushing tally with 104 yards on 15 carries while Tommy Ansley (rushing) and Bryce Bailey (receiving) additionally found the endzone today. Timosciek and Wilson each finished with team-highs of four receptions apiece for UT Martin (2-5).

The Skyhawk defense held Western Illinois to 20 rushing yards in the second half and only 59 total yards in the fourth quarter. Zamaryion Farmer-McCray accounted for a game-high 10 tackles (eight solo), including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Keyshawn Johnson also had a sack while the trio of Jabaree Dawkins, Toby Camp and Josh Hastings were each in on tackles for loss.

Cade Hechter split the uprights on field goal attempts from 28 and 41 yards out today while Jaren Van Winkle averaged 42.8 yards over four punts with a long of 55. Dazalin Worsham registered 81 yards on three kickoff returns to cap off a successful afternoon for the UT Martin special teams unit.

The Leathernecks (1-6, 0-3 OVC-Big South) were led by reining OVC-Big South Freshman of the Week Cason Carswell, who completed 21 of his 30 pass attempts for 327 yards and two touchdowns. Demari Davis (four catches, 109 yards) and Alex Williams were on the receiving end of Carswell's touchdowns while Markell Holman scored twice on the ground. Christian Pierce and Justin Richardson each had nine tackles to guide the Western Illinois defense.

"Conference wins are hard to come by and Homecoming wins are to be valued," Skyhawk head coach Jason Simpson said. "The Homecoming crowd brought good energy and vibes all day and it was good to see a lot of our former players back on campus. I give Western Illinois credit – they played their tails off. I appreciate our kids for sticking together and finding a way – there's something to be said about knowing how to win and having that confidence."

UT Martin heads to Gardner-Webb in Week 8, traveling to Boiling Springs, NC for a conference showdown on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 12:30 p.m. CT.