UT Martin Recap
Hey. Remember when – after going 3-and-out on the opening possession – we systematically drove down the field on an 10-play, 65-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead, and you felt really comfortable?
Then remember when we went into the locker rom down 21-7 at the half?
Nobody seems to be talking about this, but remember when it really should have been 24-7 at the half, but UTM missed a 44-yard field goal?
The second half started with the Bear defense forcing UTM to go 3-and-out. Followed by The Bears first touchdown in over 27 minutes of game time. And we were back in it. It was the start of what turned out to be only four second-half possessions that all resulted in scores. A 7-yard Willie Matthews run, a UTM field goal, and then two Jace Denker field goals. The last one at the end of a SIXTEEN-play drive that at one point had a 1st-and-goal at the 2 yard line. After three Blake Veasley attempts resulted in a net of -1 yards, Denker’s field goal had the Bears down just 4.
Remember when two UTM penalties left them with 3rd-and-25? And when a great play followed by a terrible decision gave them an automatic first down? Remember when you thought that was the final straw? You may not remember it, but the UTM offense then returned the favor with a crackback penalty that put them way behind the sticks and the UCA defense forced another put with 3:30 left to play.
Remember when Ryan Howard – who hadn’t played at all in the second half – trotted back out on the field for the final possession?
Remember when Damian Watts ran the perfect 20-yard curl on 4th and 15 to pick up 17 yards and keep hope alive?
Remember the effort after the catch by Courtney Whitehead to score the go-ahead touchdown – how you couldn’t imagine losing at that point – how a worst-case scenario seemed to be a tie? And how you felt after the missed extra point, the terrible feeling that we were now going to lose on a last-second field goal?
Well, whether you remember any of those things, do remember the celebration when Bobby Watkins forced the only turnover of the game to seal it. Remember that the students stayed the entire game. How the defense allowed just three points in the second half. And that we’ve still got a lot of football and a lot of goals left.
Now let’s get ready for Montana State.
Game Notes Notes – UTM
Eight freshman or redshirt freshman played last week against TTU:
- Freshmen – Artez Williams (4 tackles, 1 INT w/38 yard return), Dalvin Simmons (2 tackles), Cardell Best (1 tackle), Tremon Smith (1 tackle), No stats registered for: Eric Jackson or Aikeem Coleman ,
- Redshirt freshmen – Darrien Daniels (13 yard kickoff return), George Odum (2 tackles)
TALE OF THE TAPE
POSITION …………………………… UCA …………….UTM
Offensive line (starters avg.)………. 6-4, 298………..6-3, 278
Defensive line………………………. 6-4, 270………..6-1, 265
Offensive backs ……………………. 6-0, 213………..6-0, 212
Receivers……………………………. 6-1, 196………..6-1, 181
Linebackers ………………………… 6-2, 229………..6-0, 191
Defensive backs …………………… 5-11, 192………5-11, 177
Punt/Kickoff returners …………….. 6-0, 179…………5-9, 173
Kicker/Punter……………………….. 5-9, 176…………6-1, 180
Depth chart changes, none. Not sure I remember a week where Conque left every single person in the same spot. Most of the time that was due to injury, so maybe it’s just a new staff policy to be more secretive about injuries. Sidenote: There is no injury information in the game notes. I know the radio broadcast mentioned during halftime that Dominique Brown has concussion-like symptoms. Commentary: Maybe I just don’t wasn’t paying attention, but I don’t remember Dillon Winfrey playing much. Aum’Arie Wallace totaled 6 tackles in the backup role. But Winfrey’s only statistic – a tackle – came on the first punt of the game. And Darrien Daniels replaced him on kickoffs at the end as well.