For those of us who follow UTM football, we can agree that 2018 was a dismal year that we all wish we could forget.
In that year, the Skyhawks went 2-9 overall and 2-6 in conference play. The only teams that UTM defeated that year were the Austin Peay (APSU) Governors (who went 5-6) and the lowly Tennessee Tech (TTU) Golden Eagles (who went 1-10 and hasn’t posted a winning season since 2011).
In all fairness, UTM didn’t exactly have the easiest schedule on paper. A week one matchup against Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent Missouri proved to be too much for the boys in blue and orange to handle. But it’s an SEC school – UTM gets paid to get beaten by competition like this.
The Skyhawks also had to contend with a Middle Tennessee State (MTSU) team that finished 8-4, gave Kentucky a run for its money and appeared in a bowl game.
After a loss to sister school Chattanooga, the 2018 team found themselves down 0-3 to begin the year and in a downward spiral that ended in an almost dead-last finish in the conference (thanks Tennessee Tech).
Going into 2019, the skies didn’t look much clearer than in 2018, as a tough schedule was highlighted by two SEC schools (Florida and Kentucky), a good Southern Illinois team and back-to-back matchups against two of the best Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) teams in 2018 in Southeast Missouri and Jacksonville State.
However, UTM blew their expectations out of the water this year, more than tripling their win total from last season and improving to 7-5 overall and 6-2 in OVC play. The Skyhawks weren’t getting beat by easy teams either, as their losses came from two SEC schools, a decent Southern Illinois team, and to the two OVC teams that shared the conference championship.
The roster this year was loaded with senior talent, and several players both young and old stepped up to the challenge. In total, UTM had nine players earn postseason honors this year.
On the All-OVC first team, the Skyhawks were represented by junior offensive guard Aries Davis, senior defensive lineman (DL) Austin Pickett (4.5 sacks, six tackles-for-loss, 38 total tackles), senior linebacker (LB) TJ Jefferson (4.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, 94 total tackles), junior safety JaQuez Akins (5.5 tackles-for-loss, 92 total tackles) and senior wide receiver (WR) and return specialist Terry Williams (581 receiving yards, 777 combined yards and kick and punt returns, three receiving touchdowns, and two punt return touchdowns).
The All-OVC second team was represented by junior running back (RB) Peyton Logan, sophomore tight end (TE) Colton Dowell ans senior defensive back (DB) DaVonte Maura.
Freshman quarterback (QB) John Bachus III, who saw limited playing time in 2018 with fellow QB Joe Hudson, took over for 2018’s starter Dresser Winn this year and helped carry the team on some impressive runs.
The freshamn QB out of Giles County completed 188 passes for 2,549 yards along with 18 touchdowns against nine interceptions. For his efforts, Bachus was named OVC Freshman of the Year.
The Skyhawks ultimately fell short of winning the OVC this year, as APSU and SEMO edged out UTM by one game, but that doesn’t mean that the season was unsuccessful.
The Skyhawks wound up sharing the Sgt. York Trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the regular season series between UTM, APSU, TTU and Tennessee State (TSU), with APSU and TSU. The team nearly punched their ticket into the FCS playoffs had things worked out just a little bit better, but in my opinion, this season provided some stability and vision for the next year.
How the Skyhawks managed to rebound from the dismal 2018 season so quickly is impressive and should be commended. If there was an award for comeback team of the year, I’m sure the Skyhawks would get it in 2019.
As a fan of not just UTM football, but UTM sports in general, we should all hold our heads up high and applaud the football team for what they managed to accomplish when they were counted out.
If the team brought back all of their starters from this season, I have no doubt that the Skyhawks would be a front runner in the 2020 OVC Championship race, but of course, that isn’t going to happen.
But that doesn’t mean that UTM won’t contend in 2020. If the Skyhawks are anything, they’re resilient. Look for great things to come out of the football team next year.
Statistics and award information credited to UTM Sports Information.
The Skyhawks, after going 2-9 in 2018, finished just short of an OVC Championship in 2019 with a 7-5 record. Nine UTM players received postseason OVC honors, with Bachus III being named OVC Newcomer of the Year. Photo Credit / Sports Information
