COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech received standout play in all three phases of the game Saturday night, putting together a furious fourth-quarter rally to claim a 39-31 victory over No. 12 Eastern Kentucky in Tucker Stadium.
On Sunday, all three phases of the Golden Eagle attack were recognized with Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week awards. Darian Stone was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Week, Marty Jones captured the league's Defensive Player of the Week honor, and Ladarius Vanlier was voted the Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Stone, a 6-foot, 200-pound quarterback from Clinton, Tenn., threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter as Tech scored 29 unanswered points in the period to claim the come-from-behind victory. Stone started the quarter with a 14-yard touchdown to freshman Brock McCoin to cap a 13-play, 85-yard drive and five minutes later connected with Cody Matthews to pull Tech to within 31-24.
With 3:41 to play in the game he connected with McCoin again to bring the team within one point and following a two-point conversion Tech led by one point. Overall Stone accounted for 291 yards of total offense in completing 26-of-45 passes for 225 yards and rushing 17 times for 66 yards.
Jones tied the OVC single-game record with four interceptions, two of which came in the final 1:07 of the game. The four interceptions are the most by a Division I (FBS or FCS) player this season. Jones had two interceptions in the second quarter, ending EKU drives at the TTU 39 and 32-yard lines.
After the Golden Eagles had pulled ahead 39-31 late in the fourth quarter, the 6-1, 195-pounder from Cincinnati picked off Bennie Coney with 1:07 to play. But after a three-and-out possession Tech punted the ball back and this time Jones intercepted the other EKU quarterback, Jared McClain, at the Tech 35-yard line with 16 seconds left to seal the victory. His play helped seal Tech's first win over a nationally ranked opponent since November 2012.
Jones also added a game-high 12 tackles and ran in a two-point conversion when he picked up a low snap and rushed to the end zone with 3:41 to play in the fourth quarter to give Tech a 32-31 lead and proved to be the game-winner.
Jones currently ranks ninth nationally in interceptions (0.6/game) and 32nd in tackles (9.4/game).
Vanlier accounted for an OVC season-best 264 all-purpose yards including rushing for a 63-yard touchdown and returning a punt 79 yards for a touchdown, handing EKU its first loss of the season. The 5-8 junior from Nashville got the Golden Eagles on the board at the start of the second quarter when he returned a punt 79 yards for a score, marking his second punt return for a touchdown this season; he is one of just two FCS players (and five total Division I players) to return multiple punts for scores this season.
With 2:01 to play in the game and his team leading by a point, Vanlier took a handoff and raced 63 yards untouched for a score to seal the victory for TTU. The junior finished the game with a career-high 140 rushing yards on 19 carries (7.4 ypc), six receptions for 45 yards and 79 punt return yards.
Vanlier ranks fourth nationally in punt returns (17.1 yards/return) and sixth in kickoff returns (29.7 yards/return). He leads the OVC in both categories.
The OVC named co-winners of the Newcomer of the Week award in Austin Peay quarterback Michey Macius and Eastern Illinois quarterback Jalen Whitlow.
