Despite the preseason accolades, individual stats and obvious improvements in the team under the reign of head coach Matt Griffin, people still doubt Skyhawk football.

“When they win more than two games, then will talk,” people say. Well, pull up a chair and start talking.

The Skyhawks picked up their third win of the season Saturday against the Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb, 31-28, in Boiling Springs, NC. This victory marks the first time UTM has started out 3-1 and won more than two games since 1995 when the team went 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Saturday’s game saw the Skyhawks up against the nation’s leading offensive team, with the Bulldogs averaging over 580 yards per game.

Things looked grim for UTM as the Skyhawks quickly found themselves down 14-0 just a little over five and a half minutes into the game. UTM cut the deficit in half in the first on a 3-yard run by tailback Don Chapman.

Less than three minutes later, the Bulldogs scored another touchdown to take a 21-7 lead in to the second quarter. Skyhawk kicker Taylor Brown missed 31- and 35-yard field goal attempts wide right on consecutive UTM possessions. The third time was the charm for Brown as he brought the score to 21-10 on a successful 35-yard attempt with a minute left in the half.

It seemed as if a different Skyhawk team came to play in the second, as Chapman scored again on UTM’s first drive of the half, cutting the GWU lead to 28-17.

After two unsuccessful Bulldog possessions, Chapman scored his third touchdown of the afternoon on a 15-yard rush to pull the Skyhawks to within four.

On next GWU drive a fumble recovery linebacker Jason Hockaday recovered a fumble at the Bulldog 31 yardline.

A mere 24 seconds later, the Skyhawks took their first lead of the game on another 7-yard touchdown run by Chapman that followed a 24-yard pass from quarterback Brady Wahlberg to wide receiver Taurean Stephens.

The Skyhawks were up 31-28 headed into the fourth quarter of the game.

UTM’s defense managed to hold the Bulldogs scoreless for the remainder of the game, snapping a 14 consecutive quarter scoring streak, with 10 tackles, an interception by Hockaday, a sack by defensive tackle Joseph Threats and a forced fumble by cornerback Jason Coleman.

“How about those Skyhawks,” asked Griffin after the win. “We didn’t finish the first half, but in the second we played tough, physical football.”

Saturday’s game was an offensive battle with the teams’ combining for a total of 962 yards.

Wahlberg completed 21-of-34 passes for 271 yards.

Leading the receivers on the weekend was Stephens, who caught six passes for 105 yards. Behind him was tight end Cole Duncan with 5 catches for 54 yards.

Leading the team in rushing, again, was Chapman, who had 116 yards on 28 carries.

This marks the seventh time in just 14 career games that Chapman has surpassed the 100-yard mark.

He also is fifth in the nation in rushing yardage with 536 yards total only 4 weeks into the season.

Defensively, Coleman and linebacker David Gilmore led the team in tackles with 11 each. Following them was Hockaday with nine, and the lone Skyhawk sack on the day.

“I take my cap off to the guys on both fronts,” said Griffin of the effort of the Skyhawks.

With this win, the Skyhawks still sit atop the OVC standings and have the only winning record in the conference.

The Skyhawks will take a week off and prepare for Oct. 8’s homecoming game against Tennessee Tech. UTM will be hoping to win their second homecoming in three years with the last win coming against Tech in 2003.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Graham Stadium.