TENNESSEE TECH AT UT MARTIN
Nov. 15, 2024 | 1 p.m. | Graham Stadium | Martin, Tenn.
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MARTIN, Tenn. – While the Sergeant York Trophy is in play Saturday with the winner between UT Martin and Tennessee Tech taking home the bronze bust, there are bigger stakes as well.

 

If Tennessee Tech wins out and Southeast Missouri falls in its final two games of the season, the Golden Eagles will be Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association champions.

 

It's a tall order, but not an out-of-question one as the Golden Eagles head to Martin for Saturday's contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

 

Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will have the call on 106.1 The Eagle, while Davis Gregory, John Hatler and Chris Brinkley will handle broadcast duties on ESPN+ (subscription required).

 

So, how does Tennessee Tech win the conference championship? It's actually quite simple. In the event of a three-way tie after the Golden Eagles top the Skyhawks and Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State beats Gardner-Webb and Southeast Missouri, then the Skyhawks fall to Tech and finish the season with a win over Lindenwood. Regardless, Southeast Missouri has to lose both games against Western Illinois and the Tigers.

 

That scenario would give the Golden Eagles the tiebreaker with outright wins over Tennessee State and UT Martin.

 

It's a lot of moving pieces, but it is very much a possibility as the Big South-OVC enters the final two weeks of the regular season.

 

To do that though, the Golden Eagles will have to find a way to topple the Skyhawks, who have won the last 11 meetings in the series. While the overall series is very tight with Tech holding a 22-21-2 advantage, recent years have not been in the Golden Eagles' favor. Tech won 17 of the first 25 games in the series through 2003, but the Skyhawks have won 16 of the last 21 with head coach Jason Simpson going 14-4 over the Golden Eagles. Tech is 0-5 in the last five trips to Martin and is 8-12-2 all-time on the road against the Skyhawks.

 

Like last season's 44-41 overtime loss in Cookeville, Saturday's game is shaping up to be a battle. Both teams stand among the top in the Big South-OVC in defense as the Skyhawks are second in total defense with the Golden Eagles fourth.

 

But in rushing defense, UT Martin is first and Tech second with the Skyhawks allowing a scant 1.6 fewer rushing yards per game. UTM has allowed 856 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games, while the Golden Eagles have allowed 872 yards and nine scores on the ground in the same span.

 

Conversely, UTM and Tech are second and third respectively in rushing offense. The Skyhawks have rushed for 1,760 yards and 21 touchdowns, led by Vanderbilt transfer Patrick Smith, who has 1,030 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns and averages 103.0 yards per game. Tech has rushed for 1,654 yards and 18 touchdowns with Jalen Mitchell (588 yards, four touchdowns) leading the way.

 

UT Martin is fourth in the Big South-OVC in total offense, while the Golden Eagles are eighth.

 

One of the biggest factors that has helped Tech has been turnover margin. The Golden Eagles stand in second in the league with a plus-4 mark, and they have created 20 takeaways – 13 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries – to 16 giveaways. However, UT Martin leads the conference in turnover margin with a plus-7 set with 15 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. Tim Coutras leads Tech with three interceptions, while Ty Moss and Cayman Spaulding have returned picks for points. Chris Hunter has five interceptions to lead UTM, while Tevin Shipp has two pick-sixes and one each for Oshae Baker and Jaylon Sharpe.

 

The Skyhawks average 387.3 yards of total offense, which includes 211.3 passing yards. Kinkead Dent has thrown for 1,678 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Trevonte Rucker has been the top target, hauling in 37 passes for four touchdowns and 524 yards. Max Dowling has the most touchdown catches with five. Dent has also rushed for six touchdowns.

 

Kicker Jaren Van Winkle leads the Skyhawks in scoring with 73 points – just a single point ahead of the running back Smith. Van Winkle is 10-for-14 on field goals and 43-for-44 on PATs.

 

Shipp, Hunter and Sharpe lead the team in tackles with 59, 55 and 54 respectively.

 

For the Golden Eagles, Dylan Laible has thrown for 697 yards and four touchdowns with the bulk coming since he returned from an injury in the season opener at Middle Tennessee. Fellow Tech QB Jordyn Potts has thrown for 965 yards and six touchdowns as well.

 

D.J. Linkins leads the Tech receivers with 566 yards and three touchdowns on 44 catches, while Ashton Maples has also caught three touchdowns on 10 catches. Tremel Jones leads the team in all-purpose yardage with 894, including 142 rushing, 259 receiving and 493 kick return yards.

 

Kicker Dom LeBlanc leads the team in scoring with 53 points, including 9-for-13 on field goals and 26-of-28 on PATs.

 

Spaulding leads the team with 59 tackles, followed by Aaron Swafford with 51. Spaulding and Kanstin Brooks have the team lead in tackles-for-loss with 8.5 each, while Theron Gaines has the most sacks with four.

 

The Golden Eagles return home next Saturday for the regular-season finale against Eastern Illinois. Kickoff is scheduled in that game for a Noon start.

 

Tickets for that game are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.