The Skyhawk football team capped off a disappointing 2021 campaign with a 40-7 beatdown of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on April 11 in the Hardy M. Graham Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback (QB) John Bachus III had his best statistical performance of the season, completing 22 of 31 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Skyhawks’ offensive line was stellar in protecting Bachus, only allowing the Golden Eagles to sack UTM’s signal caller once.
A new face led the Skyhawks’ ground game, with freshman running back (RB) Zak Wallace carried the rock 10 times for 48 total yards and a touchdown. Among receivers, junior tight end (TE) Colton Dowell blew up for 105 yards and a touchdown on six receptions.
Defensively, linebacker (LB) John Ford led the team in total tackles with eight, while junior safety Takeem Young showcased his talents with two interceptions for 42 yards. In addition, Young also ranked third on the team in total tackles with six.
Ironically, the Skyhawks’ first drive of the game didn’t give the notion that the orange and blue were going to put on a clinic. The team’s first drive saw Bachus run for seven yards before an incomplete pass meant for Dowell forced a fourth down. The Skyhawks’ ensuing punt was blocked and recovered by TTU at UTM’s 31-yard line.
The Golden Eagles attempted to get on the board first with a field goal on the ensuing drive, but their attempt was blocked by freshman defensive back (DB) Oshae Baker, allowing UTM to set up shop from their own 24-yard line.
The Skyhawks drew first blood soon after. Wallace powered UTM downfield to UTM’s 48. A pass from Bachus to senior RB Peyton Logan got UTM past midfield, setting a up a trick play that saw freshman wide receiver (WR) Andrew Henley complete a 39-yard pass to Logan that saw the senior plow his way into the end zone, giving the Skyhawks an early 6-0 advantage.
The Golden Eagles failed to get any offensive rhythm going the remainder of the first quarter, failing to earn another first down until after quarter one. The Skyhawks took a 13-0 lead into quarter two after a 50-yard connection from Bachus to Dowell, with an ensuing extra point from freshman kicker Tyler Larco.
UTM’s momentum continued into the second quarter. Two straight completions by Bachus got the Skyhawks to TTU’s seven-yard line, prompting Wallace to push the team the rest of the way. Wallace’s one-yard rushing touchdown, followed by Larco’s extra point, put UTM up 20-0 to start the second.
On the ensuing drive, TTU would string together its best offensive surge thus far, getting down to UTM’s 15, but a stout defensive performance by the Skyhawks forced a turnover-on-downs. The remainder of the first half was uneventful, as both squads were forced to punt before halftime.
Quarter thee started off slow, as both squads struggled to gain a first down. UTM’s momentum came back in an instant, however, when Young picked TTU’s Willie Miller at UTM’s 45. The DB returned said interception deep into Golden Eagle territory at TTU’s 19. With the team’s foot on the gas, it only took one play for Bachus to connect with sophomore TE Richie Griglione to ultimately give UTM a daunting 27-0 lead. A field goal by Larco with a 1:10 remaining in the third extended the Skyhawks’ lead to 30-0.
The Golden Eagles faltered on the next drive, giving the ball up on a turnover-on-downs at their own 34. Once again, it only took Bachus one play burn the Golden Eagles, as sophomore WR Kevin Butler hauled in a 34-yard pass to help the Skyhawks get to 37-0.
TTU started the fourth quarter with another interception, as Young picked off Miller again to set the Skyhawks up at their own 43, ultimately leading to another Larco field goal and a 40-0 advantage by UTM. The Golden Eagles avoided a shutout with a touchdown towards the end, but the Skyhawks held on to win 40-7 and claim a share of the Sgt. York tropy.
With the Skyhawks holding onto an insurmountable lead in the fourth, some reserve players were able to get see the field. Freshman QBs Stewart Howell and Trey Fisher both saw reps under center. Howell completed four of passes for 20 yards. Fisher completed both of his attempts for three yards.
Despite a plethora of injuries to the team, the Skyhawks posted season-highs in points (40), total offense (436 yards) and passing yards. This also marks the second time this season where the team managed over 100 rushing yards.
The victory over TTU helped UTM claim a piece of the Sgt. York trophy for the 8th time in the history of the series. UTM’s Sgt. York trophy wins/shares in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021, in addition to an all-time series record of 29-13, shows how dominant the Skyhawks are over their fellow Tennessee Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) schools.
“I am very proud of our program.” UTM head coach Jason Simpson said. “We have had three losses by a total 11 points this season. That’s one thing we have talked about all week, ‘how do we find those 11 points?’. This team has played hard every week. We have had multiple injuries and they could have laid down. This is the first win for next season, and it is big to get a piece of the Sgt. York Trophy. I am very proud of this football team and it is a great win. This leaves a great taste in our mouths and we will certainly enjoy this as we get ready for the fall.”
The Skyhawks will finish the season with a 3-4 record, their first losing campaign since a 2-9 finish in 2018. This was, however, a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks (6-1), who will be leaving the OVC following this season, claim the conference crown this season and will enter the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs automatically.
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