What was expected to be a tight game turned into a shellacking as the Skyhawks beat the Wildcats 41-10. The win advanced the Skyhawks to the second round of the playoffs, where they will face #1 Montana State.
The Wildcats were simply outmatched in every facet of the game this past Saturday, and it was clear from the beginning that this game would not be a contest. The Skyhawks started the game with a 12-play, 62-yard drive to score their first touchdown, with the Wildcats responding immediately with a kickoff return touchdown. After this, it was all UT Martin.
The Skyhawks scored the next 20 points uncontested and finished the game on a 33-3 run.
The run game, which had propelled UT Martin to their success most of the season, had not been felt more so than against the Wildcats. With a season-high five touchdowns from five different players, the Skyhawks showed the Wildcats what playing in the cold should look like, and you could not have asked for a better result.
However, smash-mouth football does not mean QB Kinkead Dent didn’t get to let it fly at times. His 246 passing yards were more than enough kindling to add to the Skyhawks’ offensive fire.
Defensively, the Skyhawks showed what we have come to expect. Suffocating defense in the run-and-pass game with an impressive takeaway tossed in there.
The Skyhawks held New Hampshire to just 53 yards on the ground—their third-lowest total of the season—while also shutting down the Wildcats’ passing attack. Wildcat QB Seth Morgan could only muster 71 passing yards and an interception on 35 passes against the Skyhawk defense.
Despite the defensive line being given a lot of credit this season, it was the defensive secondary that made the play of the day for the Skyhawks. CB JaMichael McGoy Jr. took advantage of a deep ball from Wildcat QB Seth Morgan and snagged a one-handed interception to take away any momentum New Hampshire hoped to have.
Following the win, UT Martin will advance to the second round of the FCS Playoffs and will face the #1 Montana State Bobcats in Bozeman, Montana.
Skyhawks statistical leaders
Passing
QB Kinkead Dent- 17-26, 246 yards
Rushing
RB Patrick Smith- 15 carries, 71 yards, 1 touchdown
QB Kinkead Dent- 10 carries, 56 yards, 1 touchdown
RB Glover Cook- 12 carries, 56 yards, 1 touchdown
WR Trevonte Rucker- 3 carries, 20 yards, 1 touchdown
Receiving
WR Trevonte Rucker- 9 catches, 88 yards
WR DeVonte Tanksley- 4 catches, 81 yards
TE Tyler Dostin- 2 catches, 45 yards
Defense
OLB Michael Pleas Jr.- 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup
S Josh Hastings- 5 tackles, 1 quarterback hit
CB LaMarion Pierce- 4 tackles, 2 pass breakups
CB JaMichael McGoy Jr- 1 tackle, 1 interception, 1 pass breakup
