For the first time this season, Tennessee-Martin was unable to get its offense rolling.

Ironically, UTM was held to its lowest passing yardage output in 2005 against the Ohio Valley Conference’s worst-rated pass defense.

Tennessee-Martin only threw the ball for 60 yards and had three interceptions. The Skyhawks came into the game ranked first or second in the OVC in five different offensive categories (rushing offense, total offense, passing efficiency, time of possession and red zone offense).

“We simply gave this football game away,” Skyhawks head coach Matt Griffin said. “Offensively, we sucked, and that’s a fact.”

Tennessee-Martin was without star senior quarterback Brady Wahlberg, who was held out of the game with a hamstring injury, and the Skyhawks were unable to get a passing game going with his backup, sophomore Drew Jackson.

“Apparently, when we sit Brady (Wahlberg), it means we can’t throw the ball,” Griffin said.

The Panthers’ defense totaled three interceptions, one fumble and held the Skyhawks to only 190 yards of total offense.

“Our defense was outstanding.” Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said. “The defense came up with big stops after giving the ball back to Martin.”

Griffin said after the game that holding Wahlberg out was a game time decision and that Jackson, a sophomore who made his first start of the season, ran the first-team offense all week in practice.

“I don’t understand why we played like crap on offense because he was ready and took all the snaps to prepare,” Griffin said.

In his four other previous starts at the end of the 2004 season, Jackson was unable to get into any rhythm then as well.

After Wahlberg broke his collarbone in last season’s 32-14 win against the Panthers, Jackson took over as starter. He failed to throw for more than 150 yards in the four games he started, completing only 35 percent of his passes (25-of-71, 236 yards, 1 TD and 4 INT).

The Skyhawks’ first four drives accounted for only three yards and were capped with Eastern safety Tristan Burge’s interception, which he returned 32 yards for a touchdown. Suddenly, UTM was down 20-0 before it had time to catch its breath.

“It was the crappiest start possible, and it didn’t get much better from then on,” Griffin said.

The only positive to come out of the game for Tennessee-Martin was the running contribution from sophomore tailback Don Chapman.

“It was different to see a team be down 20 and still pound it with the running game,” Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said. “I think they thought that was their only chance to move the ball.”

The 2004 OVC Freshman of the Year had 127 yards on 26 carries and clearly enjoys running against the Panther defense.

Chapman had 143 yards in UTM’s 18-point win l ast season.

“He played pretty well, sure,” Griffin said. “Hell, he can’t do it all by himself.”

Eastern came into the game with the worst ranked defense in the conference against the pass and had allowed an average of nearly 25 points per game.

However, the Panthers controlled the game defensively allowing the offense to build an early 20-point lead.

Spoo said the Panthers saw a different UTM team without Wahlberg taking the snaps.

“I think (the difference) was enormous,” he said. “(Wahlberg) must really be hurt for him not to play.

“They did the same stuff with the other guy, but obviously, he’s not as effective.”