David Coulson

At the half, UTM held a 31-9 lead on Murray State. A week after Casey Brockman threw for 600 yards and was responsible for eight touchdowns (seven passing and one on a TD reception), the Skyhawk defense has put the screws on the Racers' high-powered offense.

As has been an on-going problem for Murray State, the defense has been scorched and hasn't been helped a lost fumble and a UTM stop near midfield on fourth down and one, both leading to Skyhawk touchdowns.

Midway through the first period, Hampton recovered a Robinson fumble deep in Bethune-Cookman territory, but the Wildcat defense stuffed the Pirate offense inside the five to force Hampton to settle for a field goal. It is B-CU 7, Hampton 3 with 5:38 left in the opening quarter.

By the way, this game is being played in Daytona Beach, FL., not Virginia.

After taking over on the kickoff at the B-CU 40, Ole Miss transfer Rodney Scott broke loose for a 53-yard run to take the ball to the Pirate two. Scott was stopped on a read option at the one on first down, but Hampton was flagged for being offsides.

Robinson then snuck into the end zone on the next play for a one-yard score, his second TD of the evening to make it 14-3 for the Wildcats with five minutes remaining in the first period.

On a hot and humid night, players from both teams are already feeling the effects of cramps.

Bethune-Cookman pulled off an onside kick and Anthony Jordan recovered to give the Wildcats the ball, but a highly questionable offside penalty negated a great play. B-CU coach Brian Jenkins isn't very happy with the officials.

Tennessee-Martin rolled up 300 yards of total offense in the first half against Murray State, 205 of them on the ground. Tevin Barksdale had 10 carries for 94 yards and a TD and Jason McNair added 19 carries for 90 yards and three scores. QB Derek Carr was an efficient 10-of-16 for 95 yards passing.

Brockman was 12-of-16 for just 59 yards for Murray State, an average of just 3.7 yards per attempt. Mike Harris had 10 carries for 88 yards and a TD.

At the start of the second half at UT-Martin, Brockman and the Racers began picking up the pace of their Air Raid offense and moved into scoring position. Brockman missed an open Dexter Barnett in the back of the end zone on second and nine and then misfired on third down to set up a 27-yard field goal that cut the lead to 31-12, but the Racers had to be frustrated about not getting a touchdown when they really needed it.

For years, people have complained about the officiating in the MEAC and in this nationally-televised game, the stripes are not changing opinions tonight.

David Legree showed some impressive arm strength in scrambling out of the pocket and hurling a 50-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Thomas to cut B-CU's lead to 14-10 in the final two minutes of the first period.

If UT-Martin fails to hold its lead against Murray State, blame the Skyhawk punt team. UTM's punters had already had a punt blocked and another one nearly blocked in the first half to help the Racers get back into the game. In the third period, UTM had a punter drop a snap and get tackled for a big loss to give MSU another scoring opportunity.

Murray State's sputtering attack faced a third and 19 from the UTM 38 when the Racers called a time out. With a full blitz coming, Murray State's screen pass was totally wiped out. You have to think that MSU coach Chris Hatcher was trying to get some yardage so the Racers could go for it on fourth down, but the Skyhawks forced a punt instead.

A little counter play by Antonio McCloude helped the Pirates move from midfield to the B-CU 10. But the Wildcat defense showed how tough it is again by holding Hampton to a couple of yards. A field goal attempt from just 25 yards out was hooked wide left to leave the score at 14-10 Bethune-Cookman with 13 minutes left in the half.

Tennessee-Martin came up with a nice pass play to get into scoring position again. And Tevin Barksdale banged in from seven yards out to increase the Skyhawk lead to 38-12. Barksdale suffered a thigh bruise in the first half and wasn't expected to come back, but he showed his toughness by scoring his second touchdown of the night. He had 14 carries for 118 yards after the second TD.

Watching Casey Brockman tonight, I am reminded of a conversation I had several years ago with legendary Delaware coach Tubby Raymond.

He told me that offenses like the ones run by Murray State (and Delaware at the time when Joe Flacco was guiding the Blue Hens) are so dependent on high completion percentages.

You have to keep clicking to avoid long-yardage situations and you also find it difficult going in the red zone. It is why that a good defense can slow down these seemingly high-powered attacks.

Tennessee-Martin's defense has kept the Murray State offense at bay in this one and has kept giving the Skyhawk offense opportunities. Another TD pass has increased UTM's lead to 45-12 in the third period. I'm calling this one a TKO.

Murray State struck back for a 98-yard kickoff return from Duane Brady to get back on the scoreboard in the final seconds of the third period. It is now UTM 45, MSU 19.

Hampton finally broke through in the red zone against the Bethune-Cookman defense as David Legree dove in from four yards out on the read option for a TD to make it 17-14 Hampton with 3:47 left in the half.

Murray State gambled on an onside kick and recovered, but the ball didn't travel 10 yards, leaving Tennessee-Martin in position to add to its lead.

And after three quarters, Tennessee-Martin leads 45-19. I expect a bunch more points before this one is over, but I can't see Murray State pulling this one out.

Can we throw a few less flags in the Hampton-Bethune game? Every time I see this particular referee leading a crew (those who follow the MEAC know who I am talking about), the games are long and there are tons of penalties. I can't help but think it isn't because of undisciplined play, if you get my drift.

Bethune-Cookman had a chance to blow out Hampton and the game seemed to change on that onside kick call.

UT-Martin converted a third and two to get into scoring position yet again. Murray State's defense just hasn't made the plays tonight.

On fourth and one from the three, UTM added on a field goal to make it 48-19 early in the fourth period.

Reiterating my point about officiating from earlier, there have already been 11 penalties called in the Hampton-Bethune game. Ouch. We might be here all night at this rate. It was the same thing when I covered the South Carolina State-Morgan State game on a Thursday night last year with this same referee.

David Legree just went 37 yards on the read option for another Hampton TD. It is 24-14 Hampton with less than a minute and a half left in the first half.