MARTIN, Tenn. – UT Martin quarterback Derek Carr, defensive back Thad Williams and wide receiver Jeremy Butler earned adidas Ohio Valley Conference honors for their effort in the record-setting 66-59 victory over rival Murray State Saturday.Carr, a senior from nearby McKenzie, was named co-offensive player of the week with Tennessee State running back Trabis Ward.
Carr was nearly perfect in UT Martin’s 66-59 shootout victory over Murray State on Saturday. The senior completed 42-of-46 passes (91.3%) for 560 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception or being sacked as his team improved to 5-2 on the year and 3-1 in OVC play.
He had touchdown passes of 22, 15, 22, 34, 17, 42 and 34 yards in the victory. The seven touchdown passes set the UT Martin school record (and momentarily tied the OVC record, until broken later in the game by Murray State’s Casey Brockman), as did his 560 passing yards. The seven touchdown passes pushed his career total to 54, setting a new Skyhawk career mark in that category as well. The 560 passing yards are the second-most in a single game in the FCS this season and the seven touchdowns are tied for second among all FCS players.
During the game Carr moved into seventh place on the OVC career passing list (7,172), ninth place in career completions (559) and 10th in career total offense (7,205). Carr currently ranks sixth nationally in total passing yards (2,020), seventh in passing yards/game (288.57), 14th in total offense (284.29 yards/game), 16th in passing efficiency (146.22) and completions (22.57/game) an 14th in total offense (284.29 yards/game), 16th in passing efficiency (146.22) and completions (22.57/game) and 20th in points responsible for (13.71/game).
Williams was named co-defensive player of the week with Tennessee State defensive back Steven Godbolt.
Williams, from Adell, Ga., started the game by intercepting Murray State’s Casey Brockman and returning it 42 yards for a touchdown to put UT Martin up 7-0 just 1:29 into the game. That set the tone as the Skyhawks would not trail in the game on its way to a 66-59 shootout victory. Williams also had a key pass breakup down the stretch as the Racers were attempting to tie the game. Williams finished the game with six tackles (5 solo) and a tackle-for-loss.
Jeremy Butler, a wide receiver from Bradenton, Fla.,set the UT Martin record for touchdown receptions in a game, catching eight passes for 177 yards and four touchdowns in the Skyhawks 66-59 shootout win over Murray State on Saturday.
He caught a 22-yarder in the first quarter, a 34-yard score and a 17-yard score in the second quarter and capped his quartet of touchdowns with a 42-yard score to open the third quarter. The four touchdown receptions are tied for the most by a FCS player in a game this season.