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UT Martin fueled by run game

Patrick Smith photo courtesy UT Martin media relations

It’s unclear what sort of recipe the University of New Hampshire will use to try and give itself a path to victory in Saturday’s FCS playoff game against UT Martin, but good run defense will probably have to be a main ingredient.

UT Martin senior running back Patrick Smith led the Big South/Ohio Valley Conference in rushing with 1,123 yards and 13 touchdowns on 193 carries this season. Smith, who spent three seasons at Vanderbilt, averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 93.5 yards per game, and runs behind an offensive line that had two players named to the Big South/OVC All-Conference First Team: Vance Van Every and Drake Carroll.

“(Smith) runs really well between the tackles,” UT Martin coach Jason Simpson said. “He’s got really good contact balance.

“We’ve had four backs with 1,000 yards for four straight years – four different backs, and they all were different. (Smith) is very consistent. Very reliable. The durability of being able to be physical and take the contact, get back in the huddle and then run the ball again. He doesn’t shy down from contact, but the balance he has to be able to make cuts at the linebacker level, you know safeties coming down in the box and stuff, that’s where he’s really been good for us this year and really excelled.”

UT Martin (8-4) and UNH (8-4) will meet in Durham (1 p.m). The winner will advance to play at top-seeded Montana State (12-0) in the second round. The Bobcats are the only unbeaten team at the FCS level. 

The Skyhawks will be facing a UNH run defense that allowed an average of 137.6 yards rushing per game during the Coastal Athletic Association regular season, which ranked fifth in the conference. The Wildcats could be without a couple defensive starters Saturday, however, as Brendan Tighe and Josiah Silver each sustained knee injuries in Saturday’s 27-9 win at Maine.

Tighe is out for the season. UNH coach Rick Santos said he’s hopeful Silver can play.

Very good scheme on defense,” Simpson said. “Very solid. Very sound. They always have more numbers than you. They tackle well. They give great effort. Great pad level. … You go to the big-play run tape and I think they’ve given up eight of them. They don’t beat themselves with big plays. They play the game the right way.

“They don’t really have many weaknesses. They play good complimentary football. They do many things well.”

This is the third time the Skyhawks have qualified for the playoffs. They beat Missouri State and then lost at Montana State in 2021, and lost at Southern Illinois in 2006.

UT Martin has won seven of its last eight games after a 1-3 start. UNH will enter Saturday’s matchup on a four-game winning streak.

“Just so happy for the seniors,” Santos said. “This season certainly wasn’t easy for us. Some ups and downs. At times we looked like we could compete and play with anybody in the country, and at times we were stagnant, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The resolve, the mental toughness and ability to have your backs against the wall when you’re 4-4. Basically the playoffs started a month early for us.

“It shows a lot about our program (and) who we are. Sixteen out of 20 years in the playoffs, that’s pretty special. You can put that against anybody in the country in terms of our legacy. Might not be as talented as some of the teams in the past, but I think our leadership rivals any team I’ve ever been a part of.” 

UT Martin is averaging 31.8 points per game.

“I think it’s very difficult at this time of year if you’re an explosive pass team unless you get some breaks with good weather and stuff,” Simpson said. “We try to be balanced as we can and do what we have to do.”

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