The UT Martin Skyhawks hosted the Eastern Illinois Panthers for their Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 31, where their celebrations were spoiled in a 45-16 loss.
The Panthers got to work quickly in the first quarter, scoring a touchdown on the opening drive with a 14-yard pass from Panthers redshirt junior quarterback Cole LaCrue. The extra point was good, giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
The Skyhawks were forced to punt on their first possession after failing to obtain a first down.
The Panthers scored on the following drive with a rush middle play from redshirt junior running back Charles Kellom. The extra point was once again good, making the score 14-0. The Skyhawks failed to get momentum to close the first quarter.
To start the second quarter, Panthers redshirt sophomore kicker Drew Schiller kicked a 36-yard field goal to pad their already-looming lead, making the score 17-0.
On the Panthers following drive, LaCrue threw a pick to Skyhawks redshirt sophomore cornerback Wendell Smith, giving the Skyhawks the momentum they had been looking for. The Skyhawks made their way down the field to the Panthers’ red zone, and redshirt junior running back Chris Franklin scored an eight-yard rushing touchdown. The extra point by sophomore kicker Brandon Sims was blocked, with the new score being 17-6.
The Skyhawks defense finally got a stop on the Panthers, forcing them to punt on the following drive.
The Skyhawks had life when Franklin scored his second touchdown of the day with a 14-yard rush. Sims’ kick was good, making the score 17-13.
The Panthers’ offense proved too much for the Skyhawks’ defense after LaCrue got his second passing touchdown of the day. Schiller’s kick was good, making the score 24-13 and ending the first half.
The Panthers shut the Skyhawks down once more to begin the second half. Following their stop, LaCrue corralled his third passing touchdown of the day, making the score 31-13 after the extra point. Combined with the rainy weather, fans were starting to head for the exits.
The Skyhawks scored their final points of the day in the end of the third with a 39-yard field goal from Sims, making it 31-16. The Panthers would end up scoring 14 more points in the fourth quarter.
During the game, Skyhawks graduate offensive lineman Travis Gray went down with an apparent lower body injury, forcing him to leave the game and putting the rest of his season in jeopardy.
“We lost Travis today; that’s disappointing,” said Skyhawks head coach Jason Simpson. “That’s always sad when a senior has to have ended like that.”
The Panthers acquired 552 total yards in the game compared to the Skyhawks 341, largely getting out-passed. The Skyhawks defense just could not compete.
“I’m the head coach, and I’m responsible for how we play defense. We are playing very poor defense,” said Simpson. “I’m responsible for this game. I’m responsible for the coaching.”
The Skyhawks will go on the road to play the Charleston Southern Buccaneers on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. in Charleston, South Carolina.
