Golden Eagles stun UT Martin in fourth quarter, win 34-31
October 1, 2011

Golden Eagles stun UT Martin in fourth quarter, win 34-31

Tre Lamb hit Zack Ziegler with a 14-yard touchdown with 1:18 to play and Jake McIntosh's interception sealed the win as Tennessee Tech fought back to claim a remarkable 34-31 win at UT Martin Saturday night to remain unbeaten in OVC play.

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Tre Lamb hit Zack Ziegler with a 14-yard touchdown pass with 1:18 to play and Jake McIntosh's interception sealed the win as Tennessee Tech fought back to claim a remarkable 34-31 win at UT Martin Saturday night to remain unbeaten in OVC play.

The Golden Eagles (4-1/3-0 OVC) won their fourth in a row, overcoming a determined Skyhawk team that took advantage of a couple costly Tech miscues. The Golden Eagles are tied for the top spot in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with Jacksonville State at 3-0, while Austin Peay is close behind at 2-0.

UTM (2-2/1-2 OVC) had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, turned a midfield interception into a 14-point swing just before halftime, and scored a touchdown to open the second half after Tech didn't field the opening kickoff.

But, despite the mistakes, the Golden Eagles also came up with some game-changing plays of their own. Corey Watson had a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown, Tim Benford broke tackles for a 72-yard touchdown pass, and Lamb directed the game-winning, 78-yard scoring drive in just six plays immediately after throwing an interception at midfield that appeared to kill Tech's chances.

It marked the fifth consecutive time that the visitor has won in the series.

The two teams, ranked first and second in the OVC in nearly every statistical category, put up similar numbers in a battle that saw each appear to throw numerous knockout punches.

UTM had 434 yards of offense on 84 plays, with 233 on the ground in 52 attempts, and 201 passing. Tech countered with 407 yards on 74 plays, with 180 rushing on 42 carries and 227 through the air.

The Tech defense intercepted three passes and the Skyhawks picked off two. Each team scored on four of its five tries in red zone. UTM had 24 first downs and Tech had 21. 

One big difference came in the penalty tally, where the Skyhawks really hurt their own performance. Tech had eight for 56 yards, while UTM had 13 for 142 including several key personal foul calls. Tech's winning drive included a personal foul penalty and two pass interference calls against UTM.

Dontey Gay led Tech's ground game with 83 yards on 17 carries, while Lamb added 60 yards on nine totes. Lamb was 14-for-31 for 227 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and two sacks.  Ziegler caught six passes for 77 yards.  On defense, Richmond Tooley topped the chart with 12 tackles, while Austin Tallant and Watson had nine each. Tech's interceptions came from Watson, McIntosh and Caleb Mitchell.

UTM got 87 yards on 16 carries from TEvis Barksdale, and 82 yards on 19 tries by Jason McNair. Derek Carr was 13-for-31 for 183 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked once and threw three interceptions. Steve Shiver had five catches for 95 yards to lead the passing attack.

The Golden Eagles get the next week off, then return to action and return home to Tucker Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 15, to host Tennessee State in the team's second Sgt. York Trophy game.

PREGAME NOTES
* The Golden Eagles enter the game with a 3-1 record including a 2-0 mark in the league, and a three-game winning streak. UT Martin is 2-1 and 1-1 in the OVC.
* Tech is bidding to achieve a four-game winning streak, their first since early in Watson Brown's first year at the helm, 2007. Before that, the last time was the final four games of the 2001 season when coach Mike Hennigan's team finished 7-3 and ranked 23rd.
* The Skyhawks won a 27-24 contest last year in Cookeville, putting together scoring drives of 99 and 97 yards in the second half.
* The visitor has won the last four games in this series. Tech won in Martin in 2009 (35-28) and 2007 (13-10).
* This is the first of three games vs. in-state OVC foes in the race for the 2011 Sgt. York Trophy. After winning the trophy in 2009 with a 3-0 record in the series, Tech went 2-1 last year and los the trophy to UT Martin.
* Tennessee Tech will come out in their familiar all-white uniforms and white helmets, with purple and gold numbers and logos. UT Martin is wearing bright orange jerseys and dark blue pants with white helmets.
* Tennessee Tech has 60 players on the roster, the most of any Division I football team in the state. UT Martin is next with 56.
* Tim Benford needs 14 receptions to tie the school career record (195 by Larry Shipp). He needs two touchdown catches to tie Shipp's career school record of 27. He is 362 yards away from the school mark for receiving yards.
* The last time a Golden Eagle returned a kickoff for a touchdown was against UT Martin, when Henry Sailes reached paydirt on an 87-yard return in the 2008 season.
* Tech and UT Martin have gone to overtime in 1996, 1998 and 2003. The Golden Eagles won the first two.
* Weather should be ideal. Cool and clear. Temp at kickoff will be 59 degrees. Slight breeze.
* Tech's game captains are Richmond Tooley, Charlie Stevens, Nick Campbell and J.R. Richmond.
* UT Martin won the coin toss and elected to receive. Tech will defend the south goal.

FIRST QUARTER NOTES
* Tech defense holds after an initial UTM first down and forces a punt. The kick is partially blocked by Stephen Bush and settles at the TTU 36.
* The Skyhawks moved from their own 24 to the Tech 27, but Travis Adkins deflected a third down pass, forcing a field goal try. Cody Sandlin's 44-yard attempt was wide right, his first missed field goal try of the season. Tech takes over on the TTU 27.
* Tre Lamb breaks off a 50-yard run to the UTM 28. Heavy pass rush by Lamb gets off a 29-yard completion to Zack Ziegler to the four. Two big defensive plays by UTM break up passes and Zach Sharp comes in for an 19-yard field goal. It's good, and Tech leads, 3-0 with 6:07 to play in first quarter. The scoring drive took eight plays and went 71 yards in 2:46.
* Kevon Barfield returns the kickoff 99 yards for a UTM touchdown. The PAT by Sandlin makes it 7-3 with 5:54 to play in the quarter.
* The ensuing kickoff is short, knocked down about the 20 where Cody Forbes picks it up and returns it to the TTU 44. Penalty sets Tech back and they are forced to punt. Campbell booms one 54 yard to the UTM 13.
* UTM is driving when the first qarter comes to a close. Skyhawks at the Tech 27 facing third-and-four.

SECOND QUARTER NOTES
* Fourth-and-four and Steven Shiver makes a catch falling down for the first down. Third down pass incomplete to an open receiver in the end zone, so Sandlin attempts a 33-yard field goal. Wide left. Score remains 7-3.
* Martin drives 44 yards in six plays and 1:41, netting a 32-yard field goal by Sandlin to make it 10-3 with 9:41 to go in the first half.
* Kickoff through the end zone, denying the OVC kick return leader, Forbes, a chance to return it. Tech begins at the 20. Lamb scrambles and finds Stevens for a 44-yard connection to the UTM 31. Roughing the passer personal four on UTM moves it to the Skyhawk 15. Another hard charge by the UTM pass rush forces Lamb to scramble, and he finds Benford over the midde for a six yard gain to the five. THat sends the field goal unit onto the field, where Sharp will attempt a 28-yard field goal. Good. UTM 10, Tech 6 with 6:54 to play in the half. Tech's scoring drive covered 69 yards in eight plays and took 2:47.
* Tech forces an apparent punt, but is called for roughing the passer on incomplete third down pass. UTM gets a first down at the Tech 35. Ouch. However, defense stands tall and gets a stop on fourth-and-two. Tech takes over with 3:28 to play at the TTU 28.
* TIm Benford goes up and beats the defender for a long Lamb pass, hauls it in and outraces three Skyhawks to the end zone for a 72-yard touchdown. Sharp's PAT makes it 13-10 Tech with 3:15 to play. It was BEnford's 26th career TD reception, putting him one shy of Shipp's career record.
* Third down and Jordan Johnson gets a strong rush. Completed pass but Corey Watson makes an immediate tackle to force a punt. Garrett catches the punt and is swarmed at the Tech 32 with 1:32 remaining. Pass over the middle intercepted by Jarvis McCann and returned to the UTM 49 with 42 seconds left.
* QB Derek Carr finds Shiver over the middle to the Tech 16 for first down. Carr then drills one to Shiver over the middle for a 16-yard TD pass with 24 seconds to play. PAT makes it a 17-13 Skyhawk lead. Four plays, 51 yards and 17 seconds on the scoring drive.

HALFTIME NUMBERS
* UTM has 275 yards of total offense and Tech has 238. UTM has 154 rushing on 30 carries, and 121 passing. Tech has 69 rushing on 14 carries and 169 passing. First downs edge goes to UTM, 16-7. Two key plays in the first half for UTM -- 99-yard kickoff return and the interception at midfield that led to the second Skyhawk score. Tech's big play was the 72-yard TD pass to Benford. Tech 1-for-6 on third downs and UTM is 1-for-8.

THIRD QUARTER NOTES
* Tech fails to field the opening kickoff, a high, short kick toward the left sideline, and UTM covers it at the Tech 24. Not the way the Golden Eagles hoped to start the second half.
* UTM throws back to the quarterback, Carr, who takes it to the Tech four. Barksdale rushes the final four yards for the touchdown and Martin has opened a 24-13 lead.
* Golden Eagles put together three first downs, but false start penalty sets the offense back. Third-and-13 and pass goes incomplete and Sharp's 46-yard field goal attempt falls short. UTM takes over at the Skyhawk 29 with 10:38 to play in the quarter.
* Pass intercepted by Caleb Mitchell at midfield with 9:57 to play. Offense returns.
* Lamb finds Ziegler over the middle for a 16-yard pickup and first down at the UTM 31. Bud Golden runs for another first down, this one at the UTM 19. Tech stalls and Sharp misses left on a 33-yard field goal attempt.
* Senior Corey Watson steps in front of the UTM receiver and makes an interception at the 28, returning it for his second touchdown of the season. Sharp's PAT makes it 24-20 with 4:27 remaining in the quarter.
* Excellent kickoff coverage as freshman Stephen Bush makes a tackles at the UTM 11.
* Defense really flying around, and halts UTM, forcing a punt. Kick goes out of bouds at the TTU 47 with 2:25 to play third quarter.
* Tech all the way to the UTM 30 on a 23-yard run by Alden Olverson on the reverse. Gay gets another eight. Tech whistled for an illegal block, moves the ball back to the UTM 23. First-and-16. Pitch go Gay on second down for a gain to the 11. Quarter ends with Tech facing third-and-four at the Martin 11. This is getting really interesting!

FOURTH QUARTER NOTES
* Lamb his Zigler at the six. First down and goal. Lamb to the two. Second-and goal. Gay forces it to the one. Third-and-goal. Lamb puts the ball into Gay's hands, pulls it back out and muscles it over for the touchdown with 13:13 to play. Sharp's PAT gives Tech the 27-24 lead. It's Tech's third lead of the game. Drive was 53 yards and took nine plays and 4:12.
* Last year's final score was 27-24 in Cookeville, by the way.
* Okay, defense. Time to rise up!
* Tech breaks up a first down pass, then coverage so good on second that Carr eats it for no gain. Carr rifles a bullet over the middle for a 26-yard completion to Barfield. Austin Tallant saves the TD at the Tech 43. Skyhawks grind it out, with Barksdale going final two yards for a touchdown. PAT makes it a 31-27 Skyhawk lead with 10:16 to play. UTM used nine plays to march 70 yards in 2:50.
* This time, it's the UTM defense that's made two strong plays. Third-and-10. Pass to Benford and pass interference called. Firdst down at the Tech 34. Offense cannot take advantage, so Campbell is in to punt. Fair catch made at the UTM 27 after a 39-yard kick. Clock has 8:24 to go.

* Big personal foul penalty on UTM brings up third-and-23. AFter 10-yard gain, UTM pooch punt into the end zone. CLock now with 6:17 to go. Tech 80 yards from victory.
* First down, long incomplete pass. Second down, Lamb sacked....but, another personal foul on the Skyhawks. First down at the 29. Lamb's dump pass over the middle intercepted by lineman Darrin Nalls at the TTU 36 with 5:09.
* Defense holds on three downs, then another personal foul on UTM. Moves the ball back to midfield and fourth down. Carr at qusrterback will punt, and kick goes out of bounds at the Tech 22. One more chance for the Golden Eagle offense with 3:18 to play.
* Lamb avoids rush and starts with a 16-yard carry for first down, following a five-yard false start penalty. Pass over the middle broken up....by the official. Third and nine. Pass to Benford is intercepted, but pass interference called on the Skyhawks. First down Tech at the 50. Dontey Gay sneaks through right side for 25 yard gain to the UTM 26. Time out Tech with 2:10 to go.
* Defender literally runs over Benford in the end zone for another pass interference call. First down to the UTM 11.
* Lamb caught for loss of two. Lamb rolls right, looking, looking, finds Ziegler in the back corner of the end zone....TOUCH....DOWN....GOL...DEN....EAGLES! Play was a 14-yard pass. Sharp kicks PAT and it's 34-31, Tech with 1:25 to play. The drive took six plays to go 78 yards and took 1:53.
* Can the TTU defense hold it?
* Kickoff return gets to the UTM 37 with 1:18 to play. First down pass right side, incomplete. Second down with 1:15 to go. INTERCEPTED by senior Jake McIntosh at midfield.