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MARTIN, Tenn. – Dante Harold intercepted a pass with 2:42 remaining in the game and UT Martin (5-2, 3-1 OVC) held on for a 29-26 win over Eastern Illinois (2-4, 0-2 OVC).
Brandyn Young scored four touchdowns to pace the Skyhawks offense as Young finished with 213 of UTM's 301 yards on the ground. He scored from 3, 94, 8 and 15 yards with two scores coming in the fourth quarter.
UT Martin took advantage of great opening field position as the Panthers kicked the ball out of bounds to start the game. After making it on a fourth and one at midfield, Young plunged in from three yards out with 9:24 to go in the first to give the Skyhawks an early 7-0 lead.
The Panthers also started their first possession with great field position as UTM kicked the ensuing kick off out of bounds. EIU was able to drive inside the 10 yard line but settled for a 22-yard Tyler Wilke field goal at 3:41 of the first.
EIU's defense held on a fourth down from the UTM 29 yard line on the following drive. The Panthers then struck quickly as Bodie Reeder hit Chevon Walker for a 29-yard strike as Walker caught the ball at the five and carried two defenders into the end zone to put EIU up 10-7 with 2:06 left in the first.
Special teams played a big part in the Panthers next score as Donovan Johnson blocked a potential game tying field goal by Tom Hansen from 28-yards out. EIU responded with an 8 play, 80 yard drive that was capped by Reeder hitting Lorence Ricks on a 17-yard slant pass with 2:51 left. The extra point was missed ending a streak of 51 consecutive made extra points by Wilke.
Young found the end zone a second time to open the second half as he made a sharp cut back from the UTM six yard line and raced 94 yards to trim EIU's lead to 16-14 with 10:30 left in the third quarter. Wilke would add a 41-yard field goal with just over two minutes left in the third quarter as the Panthers extended their lead to 19-14.
The Skyhawks regained the lead with 12:18 left as Young scored his third rushing touchdown of the evening with an 8-yard burst. Cade Thompson would hit Roren Thomas on the conversion to give UTM a 22-19 lead. Young added his fourth touchdown with 9:02 left to put the Skyhawks up by 10 points.
Quinten Ponius sparked the next Eastern Illinois drive with a big kick return. Reeder would connect with Charles Graves following a good play-action fake on the first play of the drive for a 58-yard score to bring the UTM advantage to 29-26 with 8:44 remaining.
Reeder was 24-of-31 for 284 yards and three touchdowns for the Panthers.
EIU will return to action next Saturday when they host Southeast Missouri on Oct. 18 in the annual homecoming game at O'Brien Stadium.
