Posted: Sep 23, 2016
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It's a important Ohio Valley Conference matchup this weekend as the Tennessee Tech football team storms into Hardy Graham Stadium on Saturday to take on the UT Martin Skyhawks.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Tech (1-2) comes into the game with a 1-0 lead in the OVC, after a 41-7 victory two weeks ago at Austin Peay, where the Golden Eagles put together 493 yards of offense and quieted the Governors. Tech also holds a 1-0 lead in the Sergeant York Trophy race in the round-robin competition between the Golden Eagles, Skyhawks, APSU and Tennessee State.
Tech will need another game like that this week, but it's certainly going to be a lot harder to come by against the Skyhawks.
UTM (1-2) started off the season with two Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, taking a 28-7 loss at Cincinnati, then nearly knocking off the Rainbow Warriors of Hawai'I 41-36.
The Skyhawks rallied back at home last week, putting up 84 points on just 347 yards of offense in an 84-6 victory over Bacone College. UTM had two defensive plays go back for touchdowns as Tae Martin returned an interception 36 yards for a score and Trey Warren recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
UTM held Bacone to 118 yards of total offense.
For the season, the Skyhawks are led by Troy Cook under center, throwing for 371 yards and seven touchdowns on 22-for-38 passing. Gunnar Holcombe has also started for UTM, completing 12 of his 26 passes for 146 yards and one TD.
Ben Axline has caught seven passes for 163 yards, while Caylon Weathers has 105 yards on eight catches.
On the ground attack, Jaimiee Bowe leads UTM with 237 yards and three touchdowns on 42 totes.
Defensively, Kahlid Hagens has 21 tackles, an interception, a pass break-up and a forced fumble.
Through three games, UTM is averaging 42.3 points, 362.7 total yards, 174.3 rushing yards and 188.3 passing yards per game.
Tech, meanwhile, is averaging 25.0 points, 335.7 total yards, 92.0 rushing yards and 243.7 passing yards per game.
Michael Birdsong has started all three games at quarterback, throwing for 735 yards on 64-of-91 passing, complete with six touchdown passes.
Yeedee Thaenrat has led the Tech rushing unit, carrying the ball 45 times for 190 yards and one touchdown.
Brock McCoin leads the Tech receivers with 16 catches for 155 yards, while Kip Patton has 15 catches for 172 yards and Dontez Byrd has 14 catches for 140 yards.
Byrd was also named the OVC Specialist of the Week and the STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week after returning the opening kickoff against Mercer 100 yards for a touchdown, tying the Tech school record for longest scoring play.
It's also a homecoming of sorts for several members of the Tech coaching staff. Tech head coach Marcus Satterfield was the passing game coordinator and associate head coach for UTM head coach Jason Simpson from 2006-08. Offensive coordinator Justin Rascati was the Skyhawks' passing game coordinator for the past two seasons, and receivers coach Derek Carr was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in UTM history, holding several records. Carr had a career-best 42-for-46 game for 560 yards and seven touchdowns against Murray State.
Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will provide broadcast duties for the Golden Eagle Sports Network and the game can be heard live on 98.5 KISS FM. Live video will also be carried via the OVC Digital Network.
