The Skyhawk football team took another major step toward joining the ranks of the elite teams in Division I-AA by recording a stunning 24-14 victory over perennial OVC powerhouse Jacksonville that vaulted them into the national rankings.

Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette listed the Skyhawks at No. 18 in its Division I-AA Top 40 released Sunday, Sept. 24. The ranking is the first for the Skyhawks since moving up to Division I-AA in 1992. The last time UTM appeared in the national polls was in 1989 when it was ranked No. 18 in the NCAA Division II preseason poll.

The Skyhawks began the game with the intensity and effort they have made a staple of their playing style this season as they quickly built a 10-0 first-quarter lead.

The Gamecocks’ opening drive stalled after the visitors collected one first down. On the ensuing drive, the Skyhawks moved the ball 56 yards and ate 6:43 off the clock before Taylor Brown put them on the scoreboard with a 40-yard field goal.

After the Gamecocks’ next drive stalled after three plays, UTM’s E.J. Daniel took the punt back 52 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 10-0 with 1:15 remaining in the opening quarter.

“E.J. was a playmaker for us tonight and we have to find a way to keep the ball in his hands,” said Skyhawk head coach Jason Simpson.

“He gives us that wiggle and speed that we need.”

The touchdown was the Skyhawks’ first via punt return since 1997 when Terrance Smith returned a punt 54 yards for a score against Austin Peay.

The Skyhawks’ next two drives proved to be less successful. Early in the second quarter, the Skyhawks took over on their own 15-yard line. A pair of Dawson rushes put the ball on the 36-yard line before a holding penalty knocked it back to the 29. Quarterback Dexter Anoka then appeared to have a nice run but fumbled the ball, allowing JSU to take over.

After a JSU punt, the Skyhawks began their next drive in the shadow of their own goal line. The Skyhawks remained dedicated to the run, pounding away at the Gamecock defense with a balanced attack of Dawson and Don Chapman. They managed to advance to their own 36 before a sack forced an Adam Ivey punt.

Dawson finished the game with 144 yards on 30 carries, eclipsing the 100-yard plateau for the second consecutive game.

“The offensive line was dominating tonight and I was able to run through the holes,” Dawson said.

“All the credit goes to the O-line. They were not able to stop our power running tonight,” he continued.

Chapman, who returned to the lineup after missing the Gardner-Webb game with an ankle injury, finished the game with 40 yards on 16 carries.

The Gamecocks took advantage of their next possession to score their only points of the first half and make the game competitive at 10-7.

The JSU offense struggled throughout the game as the Skyhawk defense continued its impressive string of performances.

Led by senior linebacker David Gilmore, who had nine tackles and a sack, the defensive unit limited Jacksonville State’s offense to 221 total yards.

“We were able to dig in and the defensive line penetrated and did the job,” Gilmore said.

Senior cornerback Rayvon Sims halted a Gamecock drive in the third quarter by intercepting a Matt Hardin pass.

JSU’s Preseason All-American Clay Green was held to 78 yards on the ground.

“We have a good defense and know we don’t want to put them into a bad situation,” said Simpson.

“I don’t think anyone can consistently score 28 points and have long drives on our defense. We are going to play to our strength on defense, “ he said.

The Skyhawk defense has allowed a total of 52 points in its first four games for an average of 13 points per game.

Following a 62-minute weather delay, the Gamecocks found the endzone again as they closed the third quarter with a 44-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Clay Green.

The drive was highlighted by a 24-yard completion from Hardin to Taurean Rhetta and a 31-yard completion to Maurice Dupree.

The Skyhawks will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Clarksville for a 6 p.m. game against Austin Peay. Their next home contest will be Oct. 28 when they host EIU.