By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Hayden Olsen had a career day on Saturday against No. 18/21-ranked UT Martin as he collected 11 points in Tennessee Tech's heartbreaking 44-41 overtime loss to the Skyhawks, earning this week's Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association Special Teams Player of the Week, as well as honorable mention for the FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week.
Olsen, a junior from Buford, Ga., kicked a career-long 54-yard field goal in the second quarter, then a 47-yard kick in the overtime session. He also went 5-for-5 on PATs for the contest.
The 54-yard kick for Olsen is tied for the fourth-longest field goal in the Football Championship Subdivision this season, dwarfed only by Stone Galloway's 56-yarder against McNeese in September. It is tied with Haidar Zaidan and Nick Madonia's 54-yarders for the second-longest field goal kick in program history. Madonia's 57-yard kick against Tennessee State in 2016 is the program's longest.
Olsen also continued his streak of perfection on PATs, hitting the 85th straight in his career. He is starting to zero in on the OVC's record – 100 by Garth Petrilli at Middle Tennessee between 1991 and 1993.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday as they host Gardner-Webb on Saturday for Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or go online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information