Tennessee Tech rallied from a two-touchdown, second-quarter deficit and survived a back-and-forth shootout, scoring the game's final points on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 1:06 remaining to beat Wofford 42-38 Saturday at Gibbs Stadium.
Jax Leatherwood turned in the best passing performance of his season, completing 38 of 48 attempts for 427 yards and five touchdowns, spreading the ball to 12 different receivers. Leatherwood set career highs in passing touchdowns, completions, and passing yards against Wofford. Eric Weatherly was his favorite target, hauling in nine catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner. Tre' Holloway added four catches for 89 yards, and M.J. Flowers caught four passes for 25 yards and a score to go with 44 rushing yards on the ground.
Qua Ashley provided the signature highlight of the day, returning the second-half opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 21 early in the third quarter. The 100-yard return is just the third 100-yard return in program history, and the first since 2016. Ashley finished with 192 all-purpose yards, adding 28 yards rushing and 141 yards on kickoff returns.
Golden Eagle defenders
Hudson Tucker and
Tyrese Whitaker each recorded a sack, and the Golden Eagles forced a turnover on downs on Wofford's final possession to seal the win. Tennessee Tech converted 7 of 14 third downs, while going 4 of 5 on fourth down, controlling the ball for nearly 40 minutes.
Tennessee Tech improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Southern Conference play, while Wofford fell to 2-3 and 1-2.
How It Happened
Wofford struck first on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Drumm to Colby Alexander, but Tennessee Tech answered before the end of the first quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Leatherwood to Ashley to tie it at 7. Wofford took control in the second quarter, scoring on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Scott and a 76-yard strike to Jack Ewell to go up 21-7. Tennessee Tech cut into the lead on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Leatherwood to
Ivan Hoyt, but Wofford answered right back before halftime on an 11-yard touchdown to Terrence Honeywood to take a 28-14 lead into the break.
Tennessee Tech flipped the momentum immediately out of the locker room when Ashley fielded the second-half kickoff and raced 100 yards untouched for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-28. Wofford responded with a 14-yard touchdown run from Gerald Modest Jr. to push the lead back to 35-21 entering the fourth quarter.
The Golden Eagles then took over. Leatherwood found Weatherly for a 24-yard touchdown to make it 28-35, and after a 14-play, nearly eight-minute drive, connected with Flowers on an 8-yard score to tie the game at 35 with just over three minutes left. Wofford's Sam Spence answered with a 53-yard field goal to retake the lead at 38-35, but Tennessee Tech had the final answer, driving 30 yards in three plays and capping it with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Leatherwood to Weatherly with 1:06 to play. Wofford's final drive ended in a turnover on downs, and Tennessee Tech kneeled out the clock for the win.
Game Notes
» Leatherwood's five touchdown passes and 427 passing yards were both career-highs.
» Weatherly's nine receptions and two touchdown catches, including the game-winner, led all Tennessee Tech pass catchers.
» Ashley's 100-yard kickoff return touchdown was the longest of its kind for Tennessee Tech this season.
» Tennessee Tech out-gained Wofford 501-380 in total offense and won the time of possession battle, 39:22 to 20:38.
» The Golden Eagles were 4 of 5 on fourth-down attempts and 4 of 6 in red-zone touchdown chances.
What's Next?
Tennessee Tech returns to action on October 3 when it travels to Western Carolina.
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