UT Martin opens Big South-OVC play with 20-10 win over Tennessee State

Oct 1, 2023, 08:21 am

MARTIN, Tenn. -- — Kinkead Dent passed for one touchdown and ran for another to help UT Martin defeat Tennessee State and win its Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Association opener on Saturday night.

After Tennessee State (2-2, 1-1) took a 10-0 lead, Dent threw a 15-yard TD pass to DJ Nelson with 4 1/2 minutes left in the half. Then he went 31 yards for the go-ahead score with 48 seconds remaining and a 14-10 halftime lead.

Aidan Laros had the only points in the second half with a pair of field goals for the Skyhawks (4-1, 1-0).

The Tigers' points came on Draylen Ellis' 28-yard run and James Lowery's field goal. But the Tigers ended up punting on its nine other possessions.

Dent was 16-of-25 passing for 230 yards and ran for another 48. Sam Franklin rushed 132 yards on 20 carries while DeVonte Tanksley had 93 yards on six catches.

Ellis was 16-of-33 passing for 189 yards and ran for 46 more. Karate Brenson had 85 yards receiving on four catches.

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