Box Score |
MARTIN, Tenn. – Defensive momentum played a big factor in the first half as both Eastern Illinois and UT Martin traded defensive touchdowns as four combined turnovers were committed.
The turnovers proved more costly for EIU as the Panthers fell to 0-8 on the year, 0-4 in the OVC with a 27-18 loss at UTM on Saturday afternoon at Graham Stadium. UTM improved to 5-2, 4-0 in the OVC.
EIU was on the board first for the third straight game as
Dytarious Johnson forced a fumble on a quarterback sack that was scooped up by
Raymond Crittenden and returned 51 yards for a touchdown. It was the first EIU fumble return for a touchdown since Pono Choy had a scoop and score on Oct. 1, 2016 at Southeast Missouri.
The Panthers converted on the two-point conversion following the Crittenden defensive score which allowed the Panthers to remain in the lead, 8-7, after UTM got on the board with a Terry Williams touchdown pass with 8:09 to play in the first.
The Skyhawks would take a 14-8 lead at the 6:49 mark of the first quarter as D'Carrilous Stephens picked off a pass and returned it 25-yards for a touchdown. It was one of three first half interceptions by the UTM defense.
JaQuez Akins picked off a pass in the end zone to end an EIU drive early in the second quarter and Takeem Young picked off a pass in the red zone with 10 seconds remaining in the first half.
EIU added a 31-yard field goal by
Christiaan Masucci in the first quarter while UTM tacked on a Davin Dyal 6-yard pass from John Bachus in the second quarter for the Skyhawks other first half score. Bachus was 8-of-20 on the day for 108 yards as the Skyhawks were held to 241 yards of total offense.
After a scoreless third quarter, UTM extended its lead to 24-11 with 11:14 remaining in the game on a Ryan Courtright 32-yard field goal. The Panthers answered with a quick drive down the field to make it a one score contest as
Harry Woodbery hit
Isaiah Hill on an 11-yard pass with 6:26 to play.
Courtright would put the Skyhawks back ahead by two-scores with a 46-yard field goal with 5:15 to play that gave UTM a 27-18 lead. EIU's final drive would come up short on a fourth down attempt in UTM territory.
Johnson finished with eight tackles for EIU including four tackles for loss as he moved into the Panthers career top ten for tackles for loss.
Joe Caputo and
Jason Johnson each had nine tackles to lead EIU.
Chris Walker rushed for 60 yards to lead the Panthers ground game while
Isaiah Hill hauled in 15 passes for 157 yards. The Panthers finished with 356 yards of total offense.
TJ Jefferson had nine tackles to lead UTM.
