Big plays once again cost the UTM Skyhawks as they fall to the No. 1 Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville, 45-16.
The Skyhawks (5-6, 4-3 OVC) could not contain the talented Bulldogs (9-0, 5-0 SEC) and, despite a fourth quarter rally, had a hard time getting points on the board.
“There’s a certain way we like to perform and that is the Martin way,” said UTM head coach Jason Simpson. “Obviously, that’s a very good football team and their athletic ability caused you to be in the wrong place. Our kids came out and fought hard and I would go to war with them any day.”
Mississippi State got on the board first at the 6:44 mark in the first quarter when Heisman hopeful Dak Prescott completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Fred Brown. The Skyhawks would answer back on the next drive, getting down the field and leaving Jackson Redditt to kick a 33-yard field goal.
Up only 7-3 at the end of the first quarter, Mississippi State increased their lead on the first play of the second quarter when Prescott kept the ball and ran 48-yards to the endzone, giving the Bulldogs a 14-3 lead.
The Bulldogs didn’t let up, scoring two more times before the end of the first half. Backup running back Brandon Holloway scored on a 35-yard touchdown run. Then with seconds remaining in the first half, Evan Sobiesk kicked a 27-yard field goal, giving Mississippi State a 24-3 lead at halftime.
Mississippi State continued to pad their lead through big plays in the second half. Prescott completed his second touchdown pass, a 55-yard pass to Joe Morrow, midway through the third quarter. Then with just under five minutes remaining, third-string running back Ashton Shumpert ran for a 59-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 38-3 lead at the end of the third quarter.
UTM would finally find the endzone in the fourth quarter when Jarod Neal completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Ben Axline. Then after a Bulldog turnover, the Skyhawks scored again with a 1-yard touchdown dive by Neal.
The Bulldogs extended their lead at the end of the game when backup quarterback Damian Williams completed a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jamoral Graham. The Skyhawks tried to answer back, but ran out of time and took the 45-16 loss.
Neal started the game at quarterback and played throughout the first drive. On the second drive, Simpson put Dylan Favre in at quarterback and he played for the rest of the first half and part of the third quarter. Neal returned to the game midway through the third quarter and played the rest of the game. Neal completed 14 of his 27 passes for 159 yards and had a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. Favre had six completions out of his 16 passes for 57 yards.
Prescott started at quarterback for the Bulldogs and played the entire first half and half of the third quarter before he was replaced by Williams. Prescott completed 14 of his 23 passes for 206 yards and also had two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.
Shumpert lead the Bulldog’s rushing attack with four carries for 82 yards and a touchdown. Holloway was right behind him with seven carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. Abou Toure was the Skyhawks’ leading rusher, carrying the ball 19 times for 94 yards. Toure is only 20 yards short of the 1,000 yard mark this season.
The Skyhawks will have a bye week this week and will close their 2014 season next Saturday when they travel to Eastern Illinois to take on the Panthers.
