Despite a short break after their season-opening loss to Ohio, the Skyhawks scored a touchdown in each quarter as they opened their home schedule with a convincing 28-0 victory over NAIA opponent Urbana University.

The shutout was the first for the Skyhawks at home since 1992 when the Skyhawks defeated Delta State University 24-0. The Skyhawk offense found a groove one week after struggling on the road against Ohio, amassing 470 total yards in a truly balanced effort. Of that total, 238 yards came on the ground and 232 came via the pass.

Three players saw time at quarterback in the game for the Skyhawks and all three performed well. Dexter Anoka started the game for Jason Simpson’s squad and completed 7-of-17 passes for a total of 65 yards. Among his completions was a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver E.J. Daniel with 5:10 remaining in the second quarter that followed a 53-yard scramble by the quarterback.

Daniel, a sophomore transfer from Louisville, caught two touchdown passes on the day.

Anoka also rushed twice for 57 yards and an average of 28.5 yards per carry.

Greg Preston entered the game after the Skyhawks’ first drive of the second half and completed 5-of-7 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. His biggest contribution to the offense was a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Burton with 5:10 remaining in the first half.

Burton and Daniel led all receivers with 79 yards each, while senior Taurean Stephens caught four passes for a total of 47 yards. The Skyhawks controlled the ball to begin the game and used several runs by junior tailback Don Chapman to move the ball down the field and set up a 32-yard field goal attempt by Taylor Brown, which missed to the right.

The visitors fared no better on their opening drive as the Skyhawk defense carried over its solid play from the previous game. After an eight-yard completion from quarterback Ryan Gehlart to Prunell Sweeney gave the Blue Knights a first down, Dante Harrold ended the drive and put the Skyhawks on the scoreboard with a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown with 8:43 to play in the opening quarter.

That score was the key play in a defensive effort that spanned all four quarters. The Skyhawks held their opponents to 211 yards of total offense and 10 first downs. Craig Worthen and Tirrdell Byrd each registered a sack of Gelhart. Senior linebacker Markeseo Jackson led the team with 10 tackles, including seven solo tackles and one tackle for loss.

Additionally, the team forced a fumble, which was picked up and returned 25 yards by senior defensive end Zach Kleinfelder. On their second drive of the game, the Skyhawks moved the ball 80 yards down the field only to tuen the ball over and come away with nothing to show for their efforts.

Josh Chapman rushed for a total of 43 yards on the drive to advance the ball to the doorstep of the endzone. He finished the game with 89 yards on 13 carries for an average of 6.8 yards per carry.

With the Skyhawks already leading 7-0, they appeared destined to go up by two touchdowns or, at worst, settle for a field goal and a ten-point lead.

Unfortunately, Chapman lost the ball as he ran into the endzone, resulting in a touchback and a turnover for the Skyhawks. Following the miscue, the Skyhawks made sure it would not cost them anything on the scoreboard by stopping the Blue Knights on a fourth-down play at the UTM 31 yard line.

They then moved the ball 69 yards on four plays to extend their lead to 14-0 before halftime.

The Skyhawks then stopped another Blue Knight drive to give themselves one more possession before the break but were unable to score and failed to get a first down.

Despite a kickoff out-of-bounds penalty to start the second half, the Skyhawks again frustrated the Blue Knights’ nationally-ranked offense.

The Skyhawks’ smothering pass coverage forced the visitors to commit themselves solely to their ground game.

After their opening drive of the second half stalled, the Blue Knights used a 55-yard punt by Matt Branch to pin the Skyhawks in a precarious position at their own 1-yard line.

Branch punted seven times in the game for an average of 39.1 yards per punt. He pinned the Skyhawks inside their own 20-yard line three times.

With his back to his own end zone, Anoka relied on his senior tailback to get him out of his predicament.

Chapman rushed four times on the drive for a total of 18 yards leading up to a Taylor Brown punt.

Brown punted the ball three times for an average of 38 yards and had a long of 46 yards for the Skyhawks.

Penalties again were a problem for the Skyhawks, who were flagged 11 times for a total of 117 yards. Urbana committed eight penalties for a total of 67 yards.

Don Chapman left the game with an ankle injury after gaining 47 yards on six carries.

The win evened the Skyhawks’ record at 1-1 for the second consecutive season. The team began the 2005 campaign by winning its first game in dramatic fashion over Central Arkansas before falling to Arkansas State, 56-7.

The Skyhawks will resume their homestand on Saturday at 6 p.m. when they host Division I-AA powerhouse Gardner-Webb, a member of the Big South Conference.

Last year, the Skyhawks earned a major road win by beating the Runnin’ Bulldogs on their home field in Boiling Springs, N.C., 31-28.

The Skyhawks have one non-conference game after next week. The team will travel to Austin Peay on Sept. 30 to face the Governors, who are playing as independents this season.