Posted: Nov 16, 2024
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Sergeant York is coming home.
With a tremendous defensive effort, Tennessee Tech knocked off No. 18 UT Martin 10-9 to claim the Sergeant York Trophy for the first time since the Spring 2021 season as well as the Golden Eagles' first win over a ranked opponent since 2021.
It also gives Tech (6-5, 5-2 Big South-Ohio Valley Conference) a chance next week to potentially earn a share of the conference championship and even the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference's automatic bid for the first time since 2011. Tech hosts Eastern Illinois next Saturday starting at Noon.
Equally as important – it breaks an 11-game losing streak to the Skyhawks with Tech's last win over UTM coming in Cookeville in 2012.
The Golden Eagles scored its 10 points on their first two possessions of the game. After the Skyhawks went three-and out, Tech put together a eight-play, 64-yard drive and marched into UTM territory. Jordan Yates caught a 12-yard pass from Jordan Yates and a facemask penalty against the Skyhawks gave Tech the ball at the 18. After Yates rushed for three, Jalen Mitchell broke away for a 15-yard touchdown run. Dom LeBlanc's PAT was good with 10:01 left in the opening quarter.
UT Martin's next drive was short-lived as Dent threw the first of two interceptions on consecutive series. Omari Philyaw had the first one, picking it off at the Skyhawk 36 on Xavier Randolph's hurry. Philyaw returned it back to the UTM 9.
The Skyhawk defense held to keep the Golden Eagles out of the end zone, but LeBlanc drilled the 24-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 game at 7:12 in the opening stanza.
Jalin Shephard intercepted Dent's pass on the next series.
Tech's defense held the Skyhawks to 37 total yards in the opening quarter, 16 in the second, 36 in the third and 96 in the final period for 185 total offensive yards – one yard more than the season-low 184 recorded against Samford last week. The Skyhawks rushed for 43 yards – the sixth time this season the Golden Eagles have held an opponent to under 100 rushing yards.
It came down to the final seconds. With the Golden Eagles holding on to its 10-point advantage entering the fourth quarter, the Skyhawks' Tyler Mullins blocked Spencer Ashby's punt, then Cam Robinson returned it 40 yards for the touchdown to break up the shutout bid with 8:07 remaining in the contest.
Jaren Van Winkle's extra point was good, making it just a three-point game.
After swapping two three-and-outs, UT Martin started a new drive with 3:42 left in regulation. Dent kept the chains moving and got all the way to the Tech 7, before a sack pushed the Skyhawks back to the 10. Van Winkle lined up for what would have been a game-tying 28-yard field goal, but the kick bounced off the uprights and was no good with just 30 seconds remaining.
The Skyhawks' players stood in stunned silence as the Golden Eagles jumped in jubilation as they headed back to the sideline. With UT Martin using its timeouts, Tech went three-and-out with roughly 20 seconds left.
With the punt looming, Tech head coach Bobby Wilder rolled the dice and sent punter Spencer Ashby drifting into the end zone and out for a safety to eat up valuable seconds off the clock. The resulting kickoff gave the Skyhawks the ball at their own 34 with 14 seconds left.
Dent completed a 12-yard pass to Scottie Alexander to move the chains, then rushed to get four yards to set up one last shot at the end zone from the 50. Dent fired deep downfield as everyone scrambled to the end zone. The distance was good, but the ball was batted around amid the scrum and fell incomplete as time expired.
Dylan Laible ended the game competing 15-of-29 passes for 128 yards, while Yates was 1-for-2 for 12 yards. Mitchell rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, while D.J. Linkins caught three passes for 56 yards.
Tech finished the game with 247 yards of offense – 107 rushing and 140 passing.
Daniel Rickert had a monstrous game on defense, leading Tech with nine tackles – three solo and six assisted. He also had three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, 3.5 sacks for 18 yards, four tackles-for-loss for 21 and a pass breakup. Aaron Swafford had seven tackles and Tim Coutras had six. Tech sacked Dent five times in all and had 11 tackles-for-loss.
For the Skyhawks, Dent ended the game throwing for 142 yards on 13-for-32 passing and was their leading rusher with 13 carries for 20 yards. Trevonte Rucker caught two passes for 51 yards, while DeVonte Tanksley had five catches for 49 yards.
Jaylon Sharpe led UTM on defense with 13 total tackles, while LaMarion Pierce had the lone takeaway with an interception.
Tickets for Tech's Senior Day finale and championship bid 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
