By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
MARTIN, Tenn. – Just when the Tennessee Tech offense seemed destined to find the endzone for the first time of the night, the skies broke wide open, all but ending any chance the Golden Eagle football team had for a come-from-behind victory against the UT Martin Skyhawks Thursday evening.
Trailing 17-3 with 6:20 to play in the game, the Golden Eagles kicked off a strong drive towards the endzone, gaining 37 yards and moving into UT Martin territory on just three plays. Enter a 2 hour and seven-minute long weather delay.
Once play finally continued, Tech didn't miss a beat, driving the final 31 yards into the endzone on seven plays. Junior Ladarius Vanlier capped the drive, diving into the endzone for a two-yard score to bring the Golden Eagles within seven points.
But the UT Martin ground game, which totaled 228 yards on the night, refused to relinquish the ball the rest of the way, burning the final four minutes off the clock and securing a 17-10 victory.
The Skyhawks opened the game on a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive spanning over the first six minutes of play. The Tech defense would keep them away from the redzone for the next six drives, forcing five punts and recovering a fumble.
Redshirt freshman kicker John Arnold played a big role for the second straight week, drilling a 49-yard field goal in the second quarter to put the Golden Eagles on the board and cut the UT Martin lead to four points. The Ohio Valley Conference's reigning Special Teams Player of the Week, Arnold's kick marked his second kick of over 40 yards in two weeks and his third of the year.
UT Martin got back on the scoreboard in the third quarter, using an impressive 35-yard scramble to sneak into the endzone to give the Skyhawks a 14-3 advantage.
Two series later, the home squad looked sure to lock up the victory, driving 88 yards to the Golden Eagle two-yard line. But the Tech D held strong, stopping the Skyhawks on a third-and-goal to force a field goal and keep the game within a reasonable 14 points.
A native of Livingston, Tenn., redshirt freshman QW Brock McCoin put together a career day, making multiple highlight-reel grabs to keep the Golden Eagles in the contest late. McCoin collected a team-high five catches on the night, leading all receivers in the game with 85 yards.
With nearly 10 years of experience between the two of them, safeties Austin Tallant and Marty Jones showed experience and grit while finishing first and second in the contest in tackles. Tallant tallied a game-high 13 stops, recording his second straight contest with double-digit tackles.
Jones, a sixth-year senior and the leading tackler on the Golden Eagle defense this season, totaled 11 tackles for the second consecutive game. With 54 stops on the year already, Jones is on pace for an impressive 108 tackles on the year.
The Golden Eagles will return home for a long break before hosting Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 18. The contest will mark Tech's annual Golden Eagle Blackout game as well as the team's final night game of the year. Kickoff is set for a 7 p.m. CT start at Tucker stadium.
