MARTIN, Tenn. – The first-ever Big South-OVC Football Association contest for the No. 22 ranked University of Tennessee at Martin was a rousing success as the Skyhawks doubled up in-state rival Tennessee State, 20-10.
The UT Martin defense produced its third straight second-half shutout while the Skyhawk offense rolled to 20 unanswered points over the final 34-plus minutes. With the victory, UT Martin (4-1, 1-0 Big South-OVC) improved to 12-1 inside Hardy Graham Stadium in the last three years and 24-8 against in-state foes since 2014. The Skyhawks also won their fifth home game in a row against the Tigers (2-2, 1-1 Big South-OVC).
“I’m very proud of the defense – throwing up another shutout in the second half,” UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson said. “I give credit to our defensive coordinator Brandon Butcher and his staff. We still can play better – we have to go back to work and try to dominate. We expect to play good, clean football. That doesn’t always mean that you’re scoring every play but there are things that we can do better that we can control and will make us a better football team.”
The air-tight Skyhawk defense held the Tigers to only 116 yards on 24 plays in the second half, including a paltry 23 yards on nine plays (2.6 yards per snap) in the fourth quarter. The UT Martin defensive unit combined for six tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and seven quarterback hurries.
Jaylon Sharpe and Tevin Shipp shared the team lead with seven tackles apiece while Jay Rogers broke through for a sack. Sharpe, JaMichael McGoy and Oshae Baker corralled tackles for loss while Carson Evans and Josh Hastings both batted away a game-high two pass breakups. Consistently applying pressure in the pocket throughout the evening was Daylan Dotson and Jarid Johnson, who each had a game-high two quarterback hurries for the Skyhawks.
Offensively, UT Martin gained 483 yards (253 rushing, 230 passing). Sam Franklin was responsible for his fourth consecutive 100-plus yard rushing game as the redshirt sophomore from Little Rock, Ark. gained 132 yards on 20 attempts. Kinkead Dent accumulated 278 yards of total offense and scored twice, throwing for 230 yards with a touchdown and rushing for 48 yards and the go-ahead score on a 31-yard scamper with 48 seconds remaining before the halftime break.
DeVonte Tanksley registered game-highs of six receptions and 93 yards for the Skyhawks while DJ Nelson caught his first touchdown of the 2023 campaign.
Aidan Laros split the uprights on 23- and 22-yard field goals in the second half while averaging 46.2 yards per punt this evening. He also made a pair of PAT’s for eight total points.
UT Martin goes on the road for its Week 6 contest, traveling to Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 7. Kickoff time from Charleston, Ill. is set for 2 p.m.
