Leatherwood Throws Five Touchdowns, Tennessee Tech Scores 35 in Second Quarter in 66-14 Rout of VMI

Tennessee Tech scored five touchdowns in the second quarter and eight different players reached the end zone in a 66-14 win over VMI on Saturday at Tucker Stadium.

Jax Leatherwood completed 21 of 28 passes for 312 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. The Golden Eagles scored 35 points in the second quarter, the first 28 of them in a stretch of 8 minutes, 33 seconds.

Eric Weatherly caught seven passes for 112 yards and two 29-yard touchdowns, one in each of the first two quarters. Tre' Holloway added five catches for 69 yards. Gabe Nunez (34 yards), Lazaro Rodriguez (21 yards) and Maury Sullivan (24 yards) each caught a touchdown pass. Emmerson Cortez-Menjivar had a 41-yard reception.

On the ground, M.J. Flowers ran 17 times for 69 yards and an 8-yard touchdown. Aidan Littles had 65 yards on four carries, including a 43-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Qua Ashley ran for 40 yards and a 6-yard score in the third quarter. Ahmad Haston ran for 21 yards and a 7-yard touchdown to finish the scoring. Ashley also returned a kickoff 92 yards, the longest play of the game. Holloway returned four punts for 52 yards, with a long of 36.

The defense held VMI to 173 total yards and 3.5 yards per play. The Keydets managed 64 passing yards, completed 4 of 11 passes with two interceptions and fumbled once. Ameer Johnson had two sacks for 10 yards and a forced fumble. Kaleb Brown led the Golden Eagles with nine tackles and two tackles for loss, and Jamarr Jones also had two tackles for loss. Leon Thomas and Josh Hand each made seven tackles. Greg Turner III and Eric Taylor each intercepted a pass. Taylor returned his for 17 yards. VMI's Leo Boehling ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

Tennessee Tech improved to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in Southern Conference play. VMI fell to 0-11 and 0-7.

Tech took the opening-quarter lead on a 6-play, 61-yard drive. Leatherwood found Weatherly for a 29-yard touchdown with 10:49 left in the first quarter, and Tech led 7-0. The Golden Eagles then took control in the second quarter. On an 11-play, 66-yard drive, Leatherwood hit Weatherly for his second 29-yard score with 9:51 left to make it 14-0.

VMI answered with a 5-play, 75-yard drive, with Boehling scoring on a 37-yard run with 6:59 left in the half to cut it to 14-7. Tech scored on its next three possessions in just 2:15 of game clock. Flowers ran 8 yards for a touchdown on a one-play drive 19 seconds later. Leatherwood then connected with Rodriguez on a 21-yard touchdown pass with 5:18 left, and with Nunez on a 34-yard score with 2:44 left. Sullivan caught a 24-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left in the half to make it 42-7 at halftime.

Ashley scored on a 6-yard run to cap a 9-play, 48-yard drive with 9:13 left in the third quarter, extending Tech's lead to 49-7. VMI added its second touchdown on a 17-yard pass from JoJo Crump to Cade Cox with 2:25 left in the quarter, making it 49-14.

Tech outscored VMI 17-0 in the fourth. Carter Brown kicked a 25-yard field goal with 12:43 left. Littles broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run with 9:46 left, and Haston closed the scoring with a 7-yard run with 5:50 left, with Cole Thompson kicking the extra point.

» Eight different Tech players scored a touchdown: Weatherly (2), Flowers, Rodriguez, Nunez, Sullivan, Ashley, Littles and Haston.

» The Golden Eagles outgained VMI 522-173, including 328-64 through the air. Tech averaged 7.8 yards per play.

» Tech scored 21 points off two interceptions.

» Tech did not punt, did not turn the ball over and had no fumbles.

» The Golden Eagles scored on every trip into the red zone, going 4 for 4 with three touchdowns and a field goal.

» Tech converted 7 of 11 third downs and 1 of 3 fourth downs. VMI converted 4 of 13 third downs and was 0 for 1 on fourth down.

» Tech held a 26-8 edge in first downs and a 32:59 to 27:01 advantage in time of possession.

» Carter Brown was 8 for 8 on extra points and made his only field goal. Cole Thompson was 1 for 1 on extra points.