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MARTIN, Tenn. – UT Martin turned the ball over on the first play of the game Saturday afternoon. Eastern Illinois would turn it over three times in the opening half with the Panthers turnovers proving to be more costly during a 27-10 loss in Ohio Valley Conference play.
EIU would end the game with five turnovers as the Panthers fell to 5-4 overall, 4-2 in the OVC. UTM improved to 4-4 on the year, 2-3 in the OVC.
The Skyhawks fumbled the ball on the first play of the game with
DySaun Smith recovering the ball for the Panthers at the UTM 34 yard line. EIU was only able to move the ball to the UTM 14 yard line settling for a 32-yard field goal by
Matt Severino.
UTM would answer with a long drive on its next possession tying the score at 3-3 with a Mitch Mersman 23-yard field goal with 4:26 to play in the first quarter.
On the next drive the Skyhawks forced the first of three EIU turnovers in the half as Kahlid Hagens sacked
Scotty Gilkey Jr., forcing a fumble that was picked up and returned for a 17-yard touchdown by Anthony Brown. Hagens would intercept a pass late in the first half.
An interception by Tae Martin set up the final UTM score of the first half as the Skyhawks took advantage of a short field and scored on a 1-yard pass from Troy Cook to Donnell Williams with 13:09 to play it the second quarter.  UTM would lead 17-3 at the half.Â
EIU closed the lead to 17-10 with 3:47 to play in the third quarter as
Isaiah Johnson scored on a 1-yard run. EIU was held to just 75 yards rushing as a team in the game.
Following Johnson's short touchdown run, UTM answered back immediately as Peyton Logan had a 62-yard kickoff return. Cook hit Jaylon Moore on a 28-yard touchdown pass on the next pay to put UTM up 24-10.  Mersman added a 35-yard field goal to open the fourth quarter as that score was set up by the Panthers fourth turnover of the day.Â
Alexander Hollins had eight catches for 114 yards for his third 100-yard receiving game this season.
Josh Price and
Bradley Dewberry both led EIU with nine tackles.  Garrett Wall and James Gilleylen led UTM with nine tackles.Â
