CHARLESTON, S.C. — Tennessee-Martin left Buccaneer Field with a 20-10 win Saturday, using an early defensive score and two late kicks to close out Charleston Southern.
The Skyhawks jumped in front 14-3 after the opening quarter and then kept the Buccaneers off the board after halftime. LaMarion Pierce, a senior defensive back, took an interception 57 yards the other way for a touchdown, and freshman quarterback Tate Surber added a 4-yard scoring run on a five-play, 20-yard drive.
Charleston Southern answered before the break with a 33-yard field goal by Matt Rolader and a 2-yard run by Dwayne Wright, but that was the last time the hosts reached the end zone. In the fourth quarter Brandon Sims connected from 43 yards after an eight-play march and from 41 yards after a seven-play drive to make the final 20-10.
UT Martin (4-6, 3-2 Ohio Valley Conference) ran for 157 yards on 44 carries. Jaydon Peete led the way with 79 yards on 20 attempts, and Franklin gained 70 yards over 18 rushes. Surber completed 14 of 16 passes for 88 yards without an interception and picked up 10 yards on the ground. The ball went to nine different receivers, with Makhia Sherrard catching three for 15 yards.
The defense held Charleston Southern (4-6, 1-4) to 57 rushing yards and 248 yards overall, forcing six punts and a late turnover on downs. The Buccaneers converted only 2 of 13 third downs, and the Skyhawks kept the ball for more than 34 minutes. Joel Castleberry and Zamaryion Farmer-McCray each made six tackles. The win moved head coach Jason Simpson into a tie for second on the OVC career list with 102 conference victories, matching Boots Donnelly.
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