Skyhawks, Racers lose
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — UT Martin’s third Football Bowl Subdivision opponent of the early 2025 season proved to be too much as the Skyhawks dropped a 42-10 decision at Missouri State on Saturday night.
In their first season participating in Conference USA, the Bears (2-2) scored 21 points in the first quarter en route to a 35-0 halftime lead.
After Missouri State scored seven points in the third quarter, UT Martin (0-4) tallied the final 10 points of the contest — all coming in the final 15 minutes.
“Missouri State is a good football team,” UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson said. “I challenged our team at halftime, and I appreciate our guys playing hard until the end. We all take part in this loss. We have a lot of things to work on but the new season starts next week with conference play.”
Tommy Ansley scored his first touchdown in a Skyhawk uniform, while Jase Bauer completed 70.4 percent (19-for-27) of his passes for 112 yards and had a team-high seven carries.
Scottie Alexander, Shawn Hardy II and Armoni Goodwin each had a team-best three receptions for UT Martin.
The Skyhawk defense was led by Tah Mac Bright Banda’s game-high seven tackles. Toby Camp had six tackles and a sack while Keyshawn Johnson managed a pair of tackles for loss.
Lamar Smith (forced fumble) and JaMichael McGoy (two pass breakups also guided UT Martin defensively.
On special teams, Cade Hechter got the Skyhawks on the scoreboard with a 32-yard field goal to cap off a 21-play, 78-yard drive that lasted 11:13.
Jaren Van Winkle punted five times for 214 yards (42.8 per punt).
The Skyhawks crank up their eight-game OVC-Big South schedule this week when they host Southeast Missouri at Hardy Graham Stadium. Kickoff on Saturday is 6 p.m. as part of “Family Weekend” on the UT Martin campus.
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Jax St. 45, Murray St. 10
Murray State dropped a 45-10 decision Saturday night to Jacksonville State at Amfirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Ala.
The Racers (0-4) head into an open week before returning to action Oct. 4 at South Dakota in their Missouri Valley Conference opener.
MSU got on the board first on the leg of Jack Tannehill, who booted MSU’s longest field goal of the season of 43 yards to give the Racers a 3-0 lead at 3:54 of the first quarter.
Trailing 24-3 at halftime, the Racers took the opening drive of the third quarter all the way to the JSU 3-yard before Jim Ogle’s pass attempt was intercepted.
On the next play, JSU fumbled, and MSU linebacker Conlee Crossno scooped it up at the 5-yard line and scored to make it a 24-10 game at 9:49.
The Racers’ defense got off to a solid start in stopping JSU in their first three drives of the game.
It marked the first time the MSU defense has accomplished this feat since a game at Tennessee State in 2021.
MSU safety Dylan Rowsey racked up 12 tackles and now has 57 for the season.
The Racers certainly had a tough day on offense, as it was their lowest output of the season.
MSU had 233 net total yards with 92 on the ground and 141 through the air.