By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – For the fourth consecutive week, the University of Tennessee at Martin football team has claimed numerous individual weekly honors handed out by the Ohio Valley Conference. Quarterback Keon Howard has been named OVC Offensive Player of the Week while kicker/punter Tyler Larco is tabbed OVC Specialist of the Week. Wide receiver Zoe Roberts joined the action by claiming OVC Newcomer of the Week honors.
Through the first four weeks of the season, the Skyhawks have earned 10 individual OVC weekly honors.
A native of Laurel, Miss., Howard earned his first Offensive Player of the Week designation after claiming a pair of Newcomer of the Week selections in Week 1 and 2. The graduate transfer quarterback led the Skyhawks to a comeback victory on the road at No. 9 Jacksonville State on Saturday, helping UT Martin to its first win in Jacksonville since 1987. He completed 79.2 percent (19-for-24) of his pass attempts for 255 yards and three touchdowns – including a pair of crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns that were the go-ahead and eventual game-winning scores. All three of his touchdown passes were in a span of under nine minutes which helped the Skyhawks turn a 24-13 deficit into a 34-24 lead. He also added 40 yards on six carriers – including a key four-yard scamper on 3rd-and-3 to ice the game on the contest’s final drive. For the season, Howard brings his touchdown total to 12 which leads the OVC and ranks sixth nationally.
For the second time this season and fourth time in his career, Larco has been recognized as the league’s top specialist after an impressive afternoon in the road victory at Jax State. The Miami, Fla. native was perfect on the day in the kicking game where he was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, splitting the uprights from 26 and 40 yards out while going 4-for-4 in extra-point attempts. His 40-yard field goal midway through the third quarter ranked as a season-long. He also proved valuable in flipping the field in the punting game where he boasted a 52.7 yards-per-punt average on three attempts. His longest punt went for 68 yards which set a new career-long and ranks tied for the ninth longest in program history.
Hailing from Perry, Fla., Roberts posted a breakout performance against the nationally-ranked Gamecocks in his second career start. The receiver tallied two of the biggest plays in the come-from-behind victory by not only grabbing the go-ahead touchdown but also hauling in the eventual game-winning score. Overall, he hauled in four receptions for 73 yards with a pair of scores on just five targets. His first touchdown of the day was from four yards out, taking a quick jet sweep over the left side and diving at full-extension to break the plane and give UT Martin its first lead of the contest with 10:34 to go. A little over three minutes later, he reeled in a 54-yard touchdown pass to extend the Skyhawk lead out to 34-24 with just under seven minutes to play. The touchdowns were the first of his career.
The Skyhawks will enjoy a bye week before opening OVC play on Saturday, Oct. 9 against Murray State at home. The contest also serves as Homecoming on the UT Martin with the game scheduled for 2 p.m.
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information