By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
NATCHITOCHES, La. – The University of Tennessee at Martin football squad never trailed in a dominating road effort this evening, chalking up a 35-10 triumph against Northwestern State at Turpin Stadium.
The Skyhawks (2-1) scored the first 21 points of the contest and never let the host Demons get within single-digits over the final three quarters. Offensively, UT Martin ran 65 plays for 432 yards, featuring 260 rushing yards on 42 attempts. The vaunted Skyhawk defense conceded just 10 points, forced Northwestern State into three turnovers and held the Demons to 1-of-6 scoring opportunities in the redzone (only conceding a field goal).
Two-time Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week Keon Howard accounted for three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing), completing 16 of his 23 passes for 172 yards. Peyton Logan dialed up a career-best 179 yards on 14 totes for a remarkable 12.8 yards-per-carry average, capping off the win after a 53-yard score with under 90 seconds to go. Colton Dowell paced eight UT Martin players who had a reception, snaring four passes for 84 yards while Rodney Williams hauled in his fifth career touchdown.
Takeem Young equaled a career-high with 10 tackles (seven solo) tonight while Oshae Baker and John Ford each came away with momentum-changing interceptions. Jay Woods (team-best 1.5 tackles for loss), Austin Pickett (sack, forced fumble), Carson Evans (game-high three pass breakups), Alexander Andre (fumble recovery), Giovanni Davis (sack) and Korbin Harmon (fifth career blocked kick) all made big plays for the Skyhawks.
On special teams, Tyler Larco was a perfect 5-for-5 in PAT opportunities and also boomed four punts for a 43.0-yard average, including a long of 57 yards.
Tonight’s victory moved UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson into fifth place for the most wins in OVC history. It was his 92nd career victory, tying him with longtime Eastern Illinois head coach Bob Spoo.
“I think it’s good for your team to go face some adversity, going on the road on a long bus trip,” Simpson said. “It tells you a lot about yourself. We started fast and that was big – we had a lot of guys make some big plays and that was great to see. That’s how this football team is – we’re a good football team by committee and that gets back to good recruiting and player development by the coaches.”
The Skyhawks wasted little time establishing their dominance, marching downfield for 75 yards on 13 plays during the opening drive of the game. Howard found Williams for an 14-yard touchdown strike to make the score 7-0 at the 9:23 mark of the first quarter.
The UT Martin defense registered a three-and-out on its first drive and allowed just six plays during Northwestern State’s next drive. That would set up the Skyhawks’ next scoring drive, which featured a pair of long plays (31-yard reception from Randy Fields, Jr. and 41-yard rush by Logan). Howard found paydirt on a six-yard rush at the 55-second mark of the first quarter to extend UT Martin’s advantage out to 14-0.
After leading the nation last season in blocked kicks, Harmon was up to his old tricks in the second quarter. He rose above the crowd to block a 24-yard field goal try with 12:23 remaining before the halftime break.
The Skyhawks forced another turnover on their next drive but the Demons got the ball back deep in UT Martin territory after a botched punt attempt. However, the Skyhawk defense stood strong – holding Northwestern State to only two yards before a missed 32-yard field goal attempt kept the score at 14-0.
Larco pinned the Demons back at their own 15-yard line to start the next drive and Baker snagged his first career pick on the first play after the possession change. Getting the ball on the Northwestern State two-yard line, Howard leapt in for a quarterback sneak to pad UT Martin’s lead out to 21-0 at the 1:59 mark of the second quarter.
The Demons were able to convert a 27-yard field goal as time expired in the first half as the Skyhawks took a 21-3 lead into the locker room.
Northwestern State received the ball to open the second half and scored its lone touchdown of the game, trimming UT Martin’s lead to 21-10. Following a Skyhawk punt, the Demons threatened with second-and-goal from the 10-yard line. However, Ford came up with a game-altering pick at the goal line, flipping the field after a 66-yard return.
Six plays later, Zak Wallace barreled his way into the endzone from five yards out, making the score 28-10 with a little over four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Both sides traded punts before Northwestern State got the ball back at the Skyhawk 14-yard line. A tackle for loss and sack nudged the Demons back and a fourth-down try was not successful as UT Martin tallied a turnover on downs.
The Skyhawks recorded another turnover on downs on Northwestern State’s next possession, setting up Logan for his 53-yard touchdown run that put the exclamation point on UT Martin’s victory.
The Skyhawks go back on the road next Saturday, Sept. 25 when they travel to former OVC foe No. 10 Jacksonville State. Kickoff from Jacksonville, Ala. is set for 3 p.m.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information