CHARLESTON, S.C. — Kinkead Dent connected with DeVonte Tanksley for two touchdown passes as UT Martin secured a convincing victory against Charleston Southern, winning 40-14 on Saturday. This triumph marks the Skyhawks’ sixth consecutive win, allowing them to share the top position in the Big South-OVC standings.

With this victory, UT Martin improved to a record of 7-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play, positioning them alongside Southeast Missouri State, who fell to Lindenwood with a score of 24-12. The Skyhawks, currently ranked 22nd in the FCS coaches’ poll, demonstrated strong offensive capabilities throughout the game.

Dent and Tanksley started their scoring connection with a 65-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 4-yard rushing touchdown from Dent himself, establishing a 16-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. The duo struck again in the third quarter with a 36-yard touchdown pass. Additionally, Tevin Shipp contributed a defensive score with a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown, and Chris Rush added a 43-yard rushing touchdown to further extend the lead.

The Buccaneers did manage to score early, with Jamil Bishop breaking free for a 54-yard rushing touchdown midway through the first quarter. However, Charleston Southern struggled to find the end zone again, not scoring until the game’s final minutes.

In terms of individual performances, Dent completed 13 of 26 passes for a total of 254 yards. Tanksley accumulated 128 yards receiving, while Patrick Smith added a strong performance on the ground, rushing for 123 yards on 15 carries to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the season. The Buccaneers’ quarterback, Rob McCoy Jr., faced challenges as he was intercepted three times during the game, even as UT Martin struggled with three fumbles of their own.