The UT Martin Skyhawks welcomed the Lindenwood Lions to Hardy M. Graham Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 for their final home game of the season.
The Skyhawks emerged victorious against the Lions, 38-31.
After the Skyhawks turned the ball over on downs on their opening drive, the Lions would strike first as junior quarterback Pops Battle would connect with senior wide receiver Jalen Smith for a 32-yard touchdown for the first score of the game.
The Skyhawks would punt on their next drive, and Lindenwood would take the ball into the second quarter with a 7-0 lead. The Lions would score off a five-yard rushing touchdown from Battle to start the quarter, taking a 14-0 lead.
The Skyhawks would get their first score of the game on the following drive, as redshirt freshman quarterback Tate Surber would run in from seven yards out to make the score 14-7.
The Lions countered the Skyhawks’ score as Smith hauled in his second touchdown of the game, extending their lead to 21-7.
The Skyhawks gained some momentum to head to halftime as they got a 43-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Brandon Sims, and Surber would connect with redshirt senior wide receiver Phaizon Wilson for an 11-yard touchdown.
The Lions held the lead at halftime 21-17.
The Skyhawks’ momentum continued into the third quarter as they would force a Lions three and out, then Sims would follow with a 33-yard field goal on the next drive to bring the Skyhawks within a point of the Lions.
The Skyhawks and Lions would trade punts on the next three drives. After a short punt from the Lions, Sims would make his third field goal of the day from 44 yards to give the Skyhawks their first lead of the game, 23-21.
The Lions would get their first score of the second half as senior kicker Will Graham would connect on a 31-yard field goal, giving the lead back to the Lions 24-23 going into the fourth quarter.
The Skyhawks took the lead right back as freshman running back Jaydon Peete would run it in from 34 yards out. The Skyhawks went for two and converted, making the score 31-24
The Lions tied it up on the next drive, as Smith hauled in his third touchdown of the game.
The Skyhawks would take back the lead again as graduate wide receiver Makhia Sherrard would run it in from six yards out for the touchdown. The Skyhawks took the lead, 38-31, with one minute left to play in the game.
On the first play of the Lions’ next drive, Battle would connect with graduate running back Jared Rhodes. Redshirt junior linebacker Tyson Hornbuckle would rip the ball out of the hands of Rhodes to force a fumble; the ball was recovered by redshirt junior safety Joel Castleberry, giving the Skyhawks the win.
Postgame, Skyhawks Head Coach Jason Simpson talked about how important it was to get a win.
“This one was important. This is the last home game. You know, we didn’t protect home field this year,” said Simpson. “It was important to us.”
The Skyhawks finished with 474 yards of offense, with 261 yards rushing. Redshirt junior running back Chris Franklin led the team in rushing with 107 yards, and Peete finished with 105 rushing yards of his own.
Surber finished 19 of 28 passing attempts for 213 yards and one touchdown. Sherrard led the Skyhawks in receiving yards with 82.
Another big part of the Skyhawks’ win was the kicking game. Sims, a week after being named OVC Special Teams Player of the Week, went 3/3 on field goals and 3/3 on extra points.
Sims talked about what it meant for him to continue to build on his success.
“Just being able to show it and prove it two weeks in a row just shows, hopefully, a lot of trust in me for the team,” said Sims. “You know I trust in the offense to get me down there to score.”
The Skyhawks end the season on the road against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 1:00 p.m. in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
