Leatherwood throws 4 TDs in Tennessee Tech win over Monmouth

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Jax Leatherwood threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns, and Tennessee Tech beat Monmouth 38-14 in a season opener for both teams on Saturday night.

Tennessee Tech entered the game ranked 14th in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll, and the Hawks 22nd.

Tennessee Tech took a 7-0 lead when Leatherwood threw a 2-yard pass to Gabe Nunez with just under 10 minutes left in the first.

Five minutes later, Elijah Jennings ran it in from the 11 to even the score.

A minute before the break, Leatherwood threw an 18-yard touchdown to Qua Ashley to make it 14-7. Carter Brown kicked a 40-yard field goal with 18 seconds before halftime for a 10-point lead.

MJ Flowers ran it in from the 6 to end a five-play, 75-yard drive that lasted a little over two minutes for a 24-7 lead with 12:41 left in the third.

Leatherwood threw his passing touchdown on a 16-yarder to Maury Sullivan early in the fourth for a 31-7 advantage. His fourth came on a 23-yard pass to Ashley with 10:39 remaining.

Monmouth's Kenny Smith ran it in from the 1 at the end of a 12-play, 76-yard drive to end the scoring.