DURHAM, N.H. — Kinkead Dent delivered an impressive performance by throwing for 246 yards and contributing another 56 yards on the ground, including a touchdown, leading UT Martin to a convincing 41-10 victory over New Hampshire in the first round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday.

With this win, the Skyhawks improve their season record to 9-4 and advance to the second round, where they will face the undefeated and top-seeded Montana State, boasting a perfect record of 12-0.

UT Martin’s running offense showcased its strength by racking up 236 rushing yards on 52 attempts, with five different players finding the end zone. Defensively, the Skyhawks were dominant, limiting New Hampshire to just 124 total yards and restricting their run game to a mere 53 yards on 16 carries.

The scoring opened midway through the first quarter when Rashad Raymond punched in a 4-yard touchdown run for UT Martin. Later, All-Big South/OVC first-team running back Patrick Smith added a 3-yard touchdown in the second quarter, increasing their lead to 17-7. Dent then capped a swift eight-play, 80-yard offensive drive by sneaking in from the 2-yard line. Jaren Van Winkle contributed with successful field goals from 30 and 36 yards, bringing the halftime score to 24-7.

As the fourth quarter began, Trevonte Rucker managed to score a touchdown from the 4-yard line, followed by Glover Cook III’s 1-yard touchdown, bringing the game to its final score of 41-10.

Dent completed 17 of his 26 pass attempts without throwing an interception. Rucker had a standout game with nine receptions for 98 yards, while DeVonte Tanksley added four receptions for 81 yards, which included a significant 56-yard catch. Smith led the rushing attack with 15 carries for 71 yards, while Glover also contributed, finishing with 12 carries for 56 yards.

On the other side, New Hampshire’s quarterback Seth Morgan struggled, completing only 14 of 35 passes and throwing one interception in the process as the Wildcats ended their season with an 8-5 record.