With a strong defensive showing, UTM dominated Austin Peay Saturday in Clarksville.
The Skyhawks boasted a score of 31 to 6 over the Governors during their first OVC game of the season. UTM had several players who helped with the win on both sides of the ball.
Senior quarterback Derek Carr completed 21 out of 33 passes for a total of 266 yards to move into third place in the UTM all-time offensive leaders list. Carr currently has 6,077 all-time yards. Cade Thompson currently holds the record with 6,260 yards.
UTM demonstrated a solid defense throughout the game, keeping the APSU score limited to two field goals.
Sophomore defensive back Fred Flenorl had a strong showing with an 11-yard touchdown off of a fumble in the final quarter. Flenorl also had a 25-yard interception return earlier in the 4th quarter and had a total of seven tackles.
Senior safety Julius McNair intercepted the ball in the final APSU drive to allow the Skyhawks to wind down the clock in the final quarter. McNair had a total of three tackles during the game. Freshman defensive back Aaron Simms also had an interception against the Governors.
The Skyhawk offense also exhibited a well-planned strategy against Peay with 384 total offensive yards, while the Governors only had 274.
Junior wide receiver Jeremy Butler boasted 90-receiving yards off a mere five carries. Butler’s touchdown with 6:38 left in the first came from a 21-yard pass from Derek Carr.
Senior wide receiver Quentin Sims led the ‘Hawks with 86-receiving yards from seven plays. Sims scored the second Skyhawk touchdown with a 24-yard pass from Carr. Junior running back DJ McNeil scored the third touchdown for UTM with 0:47 left in the first half.
UTM’s special teams also had a strong showing against the Governors. Senior place kicker Cody Sandlin made a 32-yard field goal late in the third quarter. Sandlin was 1-2 for field goals.
Freshman place kicker Jackson Redditt also put points on the board with the point-after-touchdown on Flenorl’s fumble recovery.
Junior wide receiver Kevin Barfield had an impressive 91 yards off of two kickoff returns.
“It takes pressure off of the offense when you get the ball at mid-field,” UTM head coach Jason Simpson said regarding the special teams performance. “Hopefully, we will continue to capitalize on that.”
Overall, the Skyhawks played well on both sides of the ball against Austin Peay and Simpson looks forward to the upcoming game against Eastern Kentucky.
“We’ll have to clean this one up,” Simpson said. “We’ll do what we always do. You don’t really change a whole lot. We’re looking forward to it.”
UTM will face off against EKU on Saturday, September 29 at Hardy M. Graham Stadium in Martin.
