By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
CHARLESTON, Ill. – A second-half shutout by the No. 16 ranked University of Tennessee at Martin football team directly resulted in a 28-17 Ohio Valley Conference road triumph over Eastern Illinois at O’Brien Field.
With the win, the Skyhawks won their fifth straight game – their longest winning streak since 2006. UT Martin is now 5-1 overall and 2-0 in OVC play heading into a three-game homestand.
“Eastern Illinois came to play today,” said Skyhawk head coach Jason Simpson, who moved into sole possession of third-place in OVC history with 74 career conference wins. “Our kids have earned this winning streak, no doubt about it. I am glad to be home for the next three games and what we’ve told our players is that the pressure is earned. We felt a little of that pressure today and responded very well.”
UT Martin led at the end of the first quarter but trailed for over 29 minutes of clock time until a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. The Skyhawk defense did not allow a point over the final 37-plus minutes, conceding just 271 yards of total offense – 111 in the second half – on 61 plays overall.
John Ford posted 12 tackles (nine solo) and a pair of quarterback hurries while David DuBose (blocked punt), D’Carrious Stephens (blocked punt touchdown return), Eyabi Anoma (two sacks) and Takeem Young (interception) also made game-changing plays for the stout UT Martin defense.
“We’re proud of our defense,” Simpson said. “To see them pitch a shutout in the second half – I don’t know if we win this game today if our defense gives up a touchdown in the second half. Our defense was very disruptive during the entire day.”
Offensively, Zak Wallace continued his hot stretch with career-highs in carries (21) and rushing yards (125). The redshirt freshman running back from Benton, Ark. found the endzone twice after three touchdown rushes last week against Murray State.
Keon Howard threw for 166 yards and rushed for 32 more, hooking up with Donnell Williams for his first touchdown reception of the 2021 campaign and seventh of his Skyhawk career.
The UT Martin defense kept the Panthers (1-6, 1-1 OVC) off the scoreboard in their first three drives, accounting for a defensive score for the second straight week. With under six minutes to go in the first quarter, DuBose broke through the wedge to block an Eastern Illinois punt. Stephens scooped up the loose ball and scampered 34 yards down the right sideline to give the Skyhawks a 7-0 lead following a Tyler Larco kick on the extra-point try.
The Panthers scored on their ensuing possession as UT Martin held Eastern Illinois to a 33-yard field goal with 3:24 to go in the first quarter.
Four plays in to the second quarter, the Panthers scored on a quarterback sneak on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line to make the score 10-7.
Eastern Illinois added another touchdown on its next possession, capping off a 10-play, 79-yard drive with a six-yard pass. The Panthers went ahead 17-7 but ultimately that was the final time that they would score.
The Skyhawks answered with a huge drive of their own, marching 75 yards on 12 plays in 6:12 to get within three points before the halftime break. Wallace had a 20-yard run on 3rd-and-3 before punching it in from three yards out, making the score 17-14 at the 1:37 mark of the second quarter.
Statistically, UT Martin dominated the third quarter but had nothing to show for it after a pair of missed field goal attempts. In the third quarter, the Skyhawks outgained Eastern Illinois in yards 176 to 16, possessing the ball for 12:13. After converting zero first downs in the quarter, the Panthers held on to take a 17-14 advantage into the fourth quarter.
It didn’t take long for UT Martin to tally the go-ahead score as Howard hit Williams with an 11-yard touchdown strike on the third play of the fourth quarter.
Another Skyhawk defensive stand followed and Larco pinned Eastern Illinois at its own 9-yard line after a 41-yard punt with 8:47 remaining. Six plays later, Young snagged his fifth career pick to give UT Martin good starting position at its own 43-yard line with 6:22 to go.
Wallace was responsible for one of the biggest offensive plays of the game – a 29-yard run on 4th-and-2 from the Eastern Illinois 31-yard line – to set up the final score of the contest. On the next play, Wallace found the endzone from two yards out to make it a two-score game – 28-17 – with 2:35 left on the clock.
The Skyhawks recovered the ensuing kickoff at the Panther 20-yard line after an Eastern Illinois special teams miscue. That play essentially sealed UT Martin’s first win in Charleston since 2016.
The aforementioned three-game homestand for the Skyhawks starts on Saturday, Oct. 23 with a 2 p.m. kickoff against Southeast Missouri.
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information