After taking down two ranked FCS opponents in their first three games, the UTM Skyhawks (3-1, 1-0 OVC) defeated Southeast Missouri (0-4,0-1 OVC) in the team’s fist Ohio Valley Conference game of the season, 17-7.
While quarterback Dylan Favre started his third-straight game of the season, most of the Skyhawks’ offense came from running back DJ McNeil. The OVC’s leader in rushing yards per game ran for 105 yards on 17 carries in the first half, giving him his second 100-yard game of the year.
“DJ’s always going to run hard for us,” said head coach Jason Simpson. “There’s some things he needs to improve on, but I’m very proud of him.
With most of the offense coming from the ground game, Favre didn’t have many opportunities to make plays through the air, with the exception of a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Corey Jordan, Jordan’s first of the season.
SEMO struggled offensively totaling only 92 yards of offense to UTM’s 270 yards on 41 plays compared to SEMO’s 23 plays in the first half.
“Very proud of the defensive effort,” said Simpson. “We only gave up seven points, we’ll take that each week, that should be enough to win [every week].”
After the Skyhawks scored an unanswered 17 points they couldn’t find their way into the end zone in the second half. The only score of the half came when Ron Coleman ran one in for the Redhawks.
McNeil finished with 148 rushing yards, a new career-high for him, on 27 carries. Favre went 11-of-16 for 118 yards with one touchdown pass. On defense, linebacker Ben Johnson led the team with 12 total tackles. Defensive linemen DJ Roberts and Tyler Sweeden had them team’s only sacks on the night. Roberts also forced a fumble that gave the Skyhawks the ball late in the game ending the Redhawks chance to score.
On Oct. 5 the Skyhawks return for homecoming to take on Jacksonville State. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
