LIVE STATS | VIDEO | AUDIO | GAME NOTES
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With three games remaining in Tennessee Tech's 2023 football season, the Golden Eagles face a challenge, but there's still plenty to play for.
Tech's final three opponents of the season – UT Martin, Gardner-Webb and Tennessee State – are all in the top tier of the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association standings, but none of them enter their contests with the Golden Eagles undefeated.
This week's opponent – UT Martin – fell to Gardner-Webb last week in a 38-34 thriller. Gardner-Webb lost 27-25 to Tennessee State at Nissan Stadium. Tennessee State dropped a 20-10 decision to the Skyhawks.
The round-robin has, for the moment, put those teams – as well as Bryant, who the Golden Eagles will not face this season – in a dead heat in the conference standings, all trying to play catchup to Southeast Missouri – the only Big South-OVC team remaining without a league loss. The Redhawks play Robert Morris this week, travel to UT Martin next week, then close out the regular season with a trip to Rhode Island to face Bryant.
Long story short – the Golden Eagles still have a chance in the conference race, but it comes down to these final three games with a lot to play for.
Kickoff against the No. 18/21-ranked Skyhawks is slated for 1:30 pm. Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell will have the call on 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Metz will commentate on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Saturday's game is also Homecoming for the Golden Eagles, the 92nd of those games in the program's history. Tech has a 50-41-1 all-time record on Homecoming, and, in recent years, Homecoming has been a joyous occasion with the Golden Eagles winning six of the last eight Homecoming games, including last season's 35-34 victory over Lindenwood.
To be victorious this week, the Golden Eagles are going to have to snap a 10-game losing streak to the Skyhawks. Tech's last win over UT Martin came in Cookeville in 2012 with a thrilling 45-44 overtime win.
With the all-time series dating back all the way to 1926, the Golden Eagles maintain a slim edge in the series with a 22-20-2 record. Tech is 13-9 against the Skyhawks in Cookeville, 9-11-2 in Martin.
Saturday's game is also Tech's first foray into the Sergeant York Trophy triangle. UT Martin is 1-0 in the hunt by virtue of its win over Tennessee State, meaning they can win the trophy outright for the third-straight season Saturday with a victory over the Golden Eagles. Tech's season finale at Tennessee State is the third and final game of the 2023 series.
Without a doubt, UT Martin's offensive numbers look daunting. The Skyhawks lead the conference in rushing, total offense and scoring, while boasting the league's best rush defense and third-best scoring defense.
UTM averages 30.88 points per game and is allowing 22.75 points per game. Their offense is generating 430.13 yards per game and yielding 366.38. On average, opponents are rushing under a hundred yards per game at an 89.63 clip. Conversely, the Skyhawks are getting it done on the ground as they're averaging 230.4 rushing yards per game.
The credit there goes to Sam Franklin, the Big South-OVC's leading rusher, who has 1,017 yards on the year with nine touchdowns. He is averaging 127.13 yards per game. In comparison, SEMO's Geno Hess is second in the league with 680 yards, an average of 85 per game.
The Skyhawks' passing attack is no slouch though – Kinkead Dent has thrown for 1,508 yards this season, averaging 188.5 per game. He has completed 129 of 246 passes for a league-best 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Dent can also spread the wealth too as the Skyhawks have 15 different players who have caught at least one pass and nine who have caught a touchdown.
DeVonte Tanksley leads the way with 35 catches for 438 yards and two scores, while Zoe Roberts and Marlon Cook have a team-best three touchdown catches.
Defensively, the Skyhawks have collected 19 sacks, led by Daylan Dotson with 5.5 for 38 yards. Dotson also has 13 total tackles-for-loss for 58 yards. The trio of Jaylon Sharpe, Tevin Shipp and Carson Evans have 48, 47 and 46 tackles respectively to lead the team. UTM has forced 10 total turnovers on the season with seven interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Therein lies an interesting comparison that could shift the dynamics a little. The Golden Eagles have nine interceptions on the season – led by conference leader Tim Coutras, who has four interceptions for 56 yards – and five fumble recoveries. Last week, the Golden Eagles returned three turnovers for touchdowns as Daniel Rickert and Aaron Swafford returned fumbles for scores, while Coutras picked off a pass and took it for six points. Tech forced six turnovers in the win over Robert Morris, the third-most in a single-game in program history.
Rickert has also been a wrecking ball – he stands fourth in total tackles, but leads the team in tackles-for-loss with 11.5 for 34 yards and sacks with seven for 24 yards. The Tech single-season sack record is 10, held by D.J. Bleisath (2001), Branon Vaughn (1998) and Shane Queen (1991). He had two strip sacks last week to go along with his fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Swafford, who also had a fumble score last week, leads the team with 53 tackles, while Jacquez McGowan has 48.
Tech has held its last five opponents to under 100 rushing yards, but UTM's Franklin will give the Golden Eagles a challenge. It's not impossible though – Tech's defense held Southeast Missouri and its star back Hess under the century mark with 68 total yards, 48 for Hess.
The Golden Eagles rank third in rush defense, allowing an average of 127.13 yards. Tech leads the conference, however, in total defense, yielding 320.13 yards per game.
After a slow start offensively, Tech's attackers have started to gel in production. True freshman Jordyn Potts overtook the passing lead with 533 yards and a touchdown with three starts under his belt, while also rushing for 80 yards and another score. Montana transfer Marcus Knight is starting to see more touches and has 314 yards and a team-best four touchdowns. Justin Pegues leads the team with 349 yards and two scores on 72 carries.
Brad Clark leads the Tech receivers with 367 yards on 29 catches, while Metrius Fleming, Torin Baker and Willie Miller each have a catch for a TD.
Tickets for Saturday's game are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
