Troy stomps Middle Tennessee

TROY — When the ESPN family of networks comes calling, Troy University puts on a show.

The Trojans (8-3, 6-0 in Sun Belt) ran their streak to five wins in the last six games on national television with a convincing 45-7 win over Middle Tennessee (6-6, 4-3) Tuesday night at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium. Troy also held on to the Palladium — the trophy in this Sun Belt rivalry — for another year.

It was a show of dominance for the Trojans, who outgained MTSU 551-209 and allowed just a first-quarter touchdown.

“It was a grudge-rivalry type thing,” Troy linebacker Marcus Richardson said. “We wanted to set that tone from the beginning and we did.”

That they did. Troy scored early on an 8-yard pass from Omar Haugabook to Gary Banks and took a 10-7 lead on a Greg Whibbs 41-yard field goal.

Special teams set the key in the second quarter. Enterprise native R.J. Roberts blocked a David DeFatta punt and watched it roll out of bounds at the MTSU 4-yard line. Haugabook scored on a 6-yard run three plays later.

Four minutes later, MTSU’s Roy Polite muffed a punt that Tavares Williams recovered. Sean Dawkins’ 1-yard run gave Troy a 24-7 halftime lead.

The defense handled business the rest of the way. Kenny Cattouse and Haugabook each had 1-yard scoring runs, and Troy fueled the rivalry fire late with a 16-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Tanner Jones to Cornelius Williams.

The defense didn’t force any turnovers but held MTSU to just 12 first downs. Troy’s offense had 37.

“I can’t think of anything that really sticks out negatively,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. “We’ve had some great defenses here. Right now, this one’s verging on being pretty good.”

Troy’s Haugabook was 16-of-29 for 194 yards. He gained 107 yards on the ground, but he lost 43 of those due to sacks.

Troy’s Elbert Mack had a fourth-quarter interception that gave him a nation-leading eight on the year. Eufaula native Jerrel Jernigan led the receivers with five catches for 74 yards.

The next step: Troy is now a Sun Belt co-champion, but a loss on Dec. 1 to Florida Atlantic means the Owls go to the New Orleans Bowl, assuming FAU beats winless FIU this weekend.
Should FIU pull the upset in Saturday’s game, Troy will clinch the berth before the Dec. 1 game.

Troy went to the bowl last year as a co-champion as both Troy and MTSU finished with 6-1 league records. Troy won the head-to-head matchup.

“As far as the league goes, we’re the champs already,” Blakeney said. “That’s not as far as how it’s figured to me. We play for the championship a week from Saturday.”

A loss to FAU might keep Troy out of the bowl picture, even with eight wins.

That’s why the Trojans need a win — that, and the entitlement to sole control over the Sun Belt title.

“If we don’t close the deal, we’re not champions,” Richardson said. “They say you can be co-conference champions. I don’t go for that. If we don’t beat FAU, we’re not champions. At the end of the day, only one team goes to our bowl and that’s the conference champions.”

First quarter
6:20 Troy 7, MTSU 0: Gary Banks 8 pass from Omar Haugabook (Greg Whibbs PAT). 6 plays, 54 yards, 1:20. Key play: Kennard Burton was pulled down in the end zone, drawing pass interference on 3rd and 10 and giving Troy the ball at the MTSU 15.

4:54 Troy 7, MTSU 7: Stephen Chicola 5 pass from Joe Craddock (David DeFatta PAT). 5 plays, 65 yards, 1:26. Key play: Joe Craddock ran 34 yards on a QB draw to the Troy 12.

2:04 Troy 10, MTSU 7: Whibbs 41 FG. 9 plays, 34 yards, 2:50. Key play: Haugabook hit Jerrel Jernigan for a gain of 23 to the MTSU 35.

Second quarter
10:49 Troy 17, MTSU 7: Haugabook 6 run (Whibbs PAT). 3 plays, 4 yards, 1:12. Key play: R.J. Roberts blocked a punt that gave Troy possession at the MTSU 4.

6:11 Troy 24, MTSU 7: Sean Dawkins 1 run (Whibbs PAT). 6 plays, 26 yards, 1:19. Key play: Tavares Williams recovered a muffed punt at the MTSU 26.

Third quarter
8:00 Troy 31, MTSU 7: Kenny Cattouse 1 run (Whibbs PAT). 16 plays, 91 yards, 7:00. Key play: Pass interference on 2nd and 39 made it 1st and 10 at the Troy 31.

1:32 Troy 38, MTSU 7: Haugabook 1 run (Whibbs PAT). 11 plays, 79 yards, 3:22. Key play: Jernigan gained 18 yards on a screen pass to the MTSU 44.

Fourth quarter
10:29 Troy 45, MTSU 7: Cornelius Williams 16 pass from Tanner Jones (Whibbs PAT). 11 plays, 80 yards, 4:10. Key play: Jernigan gained 21 yards on a pass from Tanner Jones to the MTSU 18.