Racers Drop Wild Homecoming Affair

Saturday, October 13

Stewart Stadium

3 p.m.

Murray State

UT Martin (Homecoming)

Photo by: Tab Brockman

10/13/2012 4:54:00 PM | Football

BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE .pdf | 1st HALF GALLERY | 2nd HALF GALLERY | POSTGAME NOTES

Murray State racked up 747 yards, and quarterback Casey Brockman threw a school record eight touchdown passes, but it was not enough as UT Martin jumped out to an early lead and held off the Racers in a wild affair, 66-59, Saturday afternoon at Stewart Stadium.

Brockman continues to rewrite the record books as he went 45-for-67 for 537 yards and eight touchdowns. He tied his own school and OVC record with the 45 completions, while breaking his own touchdown pass record. Brockman threw seven touchdown passes against Missouri State (2010) and Tennessee State (2011).

In the process, Brockman passed Michael Proctor to become the school's all-time leader in passing yards. Brockman now owns the school record for attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.

Brockman was not the only Racer to have a big day as wide receiver Walter Powell had 14 catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns. The 14 grabs ranks as the third highest single-game performance in school history. Powell also has 74 catches this season, and is just 14 receptions shy of tieing Harvey Tanner's 45-year old record of 88 receptions.

Powell was joined by Dontel Watkins who had his first career 100-yard receiving day. He finished with seven grabs for 149 yards and a score.

The Skyhawks (5-2, 3-1 OVC) jumped to a huge first-quarter lead as they took advantage of a pair of Racer turnovers, including a 42-yard interception return for touchdown by Thad Williams, to lead 28-10 after the first stanza.

The Racers (3-4, 2-2 OVC) got their offense going with Brockman hitting Patrick Robertson on a five-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and Jordan Benton added a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter.

The second quarter saw Brockman throw touchdown passes to Ja-Vonta Trotter, and a pair to Powell, including one with just 10 seconds remaining in the half.

UTM grew its lead to 21 points in the third quarter as Derek Carr threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Cody Sandlin hit a 22-yard field goal.

The fourth quarter began with the Racers trailing by 21 points, before making one final push. Brockman found Watkins for 27 yards, but he fumbled the ball into the endzone. A hustling Jeremy Harness dove on the ball in the endzone for the score.

On the next possession, the Racer defense stopped the Skyhawks on downs at the Racer 44 as Corey Addison stopped DJ McNeil for no gain on 4th-and-1.

The Racer offense needed eight plays to reach the endzone as Brockman threw a nine-yard touchdown to Trotter in the corner of the endzone.

The defense came up big one last time as they forced the Skyhawks to punt with 4:04 remaining in the game. Brockman found Jaamal Berry for six yards on a 4th-and-1. Three plays later, the Racers faced another fourth down, but this time Brockman's deep pass to Powell was knocked away at the last second.

The Skyhawks took advantage and got a nine-yard score from McNeil, before the Racers drove back down and got an 11-yard touchdown catch from Watkins in the final seconds.

Despite the aerial display, the Racers rushed 37 times for 222 yards. Brady led the attack with 112 yards on 18 carries. Berry added 84 yards on 14 carries.

The Racers will have a bye next week before returning to action against Jacksonville State on Oct. 27. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.