Skyhawks Prove To Be Road Dawgs Against Gardner-Webb

Saturday, October 18

Boiling Springs, NC

12:30 p.m.

UT Martin

3-5 , 3-1

Gardner-Webb

4-3 , 2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UT Martin

Gardner-Webb

Skyhawks Prove To Be Road Dawgs Against Gardner-Webb

10/18/2025 5:27:00 PM | Football

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BOILING SPRINGS, NC – The University of Tennessee at Martin football program went on the road and posted a dominant 37-7 victory over OVC-Big South Football Association foe Gardner-Webb behind strong play in all three phases of the game.

The Skyhawks (3-5, 3-1 OVC-Big South) picked up their first road victory of the season and second win in a row after producing in every phase with four offensive touchdowns, four forced turnovers on defense and three field goals on special teams. UT Martin jumped out to an early lead with a daunting 18-play opening drive which chewed up nearly 10 minutes of game clock and never looked back. The team's impressive play marked the program's largest road margin of victory against a league opponent since Nov. 13, 2021 when the Skyhawks blasted Tennessee Tech by a 42-3 score.

Statistically the Skyhawks posted a dominant performance with 408 yards of total offense while finding the endzone on four occasions. Quarterback Jase Bauer used his arm to score the game's first touchdown as a 28-yard passing connection to Dazalin Worsham put the Skyhawks up 10-0 after the first period. From there the UT Martin pounded the ground game on the way to 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns courtesy of Bauer (15-yard touchdown), John Gentry (seven-yard touchdown) and Chris Franklin (66-yard touchdown).

On the defensive side of the ball the visitors wrecked the Runnin' Bulldogs Homecoming early and often. UT Martin pitched a shutout for the first three quarters while thwarting scoring opportunities with four forced turnovers – including three interceptions by the trio of Chris Rhodes, Jamal Mayers and JaMichael McGoy, Jr. The squad also forced two fumbles as Jabaree Dawkins and Keyshawn Johnson were each credited with a force while Toby Camp recorded a recovery.

Special teams were also a bright spot for the Skyhawks as reining OVC-Big South Special Teams Player of the Week Cade Hechter made his case for back-to-back honors after converting 3-of-3 field goal attempts from 37, 41 and 25 yards, respectively.

Other performances of note included a record-setting day for McGoy. The All-American contributed three passes defended – two pass breakups and one interception – in the game to bump his career total up to 43 while his two PBUs set a new program record for the senior with 37 to surpass former teammate Oshae Baker's previous mark (36) set last season.

"Total credit to our kids," UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson said. "I told them that teams in this league think you are vulnerable right now. This team was getting you at home and hadn't seen you at your best, but these guys responded after a tough travel day yesterday and made no excuses. We executed in all three phases of the game today. I'm proud of our coaches, proud of our program and it was a great win on the road."

Gardner-Webb (4-3, 2-1 OVC-Big South) entered the contest one position out of the Top 25 in the AFCA Coaches' Poll. The Runnin' Bulldogs were chained up by the Skyhawk offense as their four turnovers marked a season high while the team's rushing (83 yards) and total offense (319 yards) production ranked as season lows. The Skyhawks were especially impressive on third (4-of-11) and fourth down (1-of-3) conversion opportunities on defense.

UT Martin will look to the bye week to rest and heal up before returning to action on Saturday, Nov. 1 when traveling to Eastern Illinois for an OVC-Big South matchup.