Troy notebook: Fake punt fools Trojans

STILLWATER, Okla. — Right when it looked like Troy was going to get a piece of fourth-quarter momentum, the Trojans went to sleep.

Oklahoma State punter Matt Fodge took a snap and went to the right. He easily had a first down on 4th and 7 with Troy down just 45-24 early in the fourth quarter.

One problem. The whistle blew, and OSU was called for illegal procedure. Do over.

The next problem — this time for Troy. Fodge did the exact same thing and got a first down, going 16 yards. OSU was held to a field goal on the drive, but it took 8:22 off the clock.

“The little old boy took about five minutes running around the right side,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. “It’s sad, and par for the course.”

One more touchdown, and OSU walked out with a 55-24 win.

Personal fouls sting
Troy was called for three personal fouls — one on Boris Lee in the middle of a scoring drive and one each on Tavares Williams and Jorrick Calvin after shoving OSU players after OSU touchdowns.

“It was frustration also,” Lee said. “We got out there and we knew what we were supposed to do, but seeing them run around like they did gets to some of the players.

“Me personally, I’m disappointed in myself for getting a personal foul. That’s not like me, but we got frustrated.”

OSU was called for one personal foul.

Bryant bombs Troy
OSU sophomore wideout Dez Bryant burned Troy for 119 yards in the first half, including three touchdowns on six catches.

“He’s a Sunday guy, I believe,” Blakeney said. “I don’t know what round and all that kind of stuff, but he runs fast and catches the ball. That’s two things that will get you down the road.”

Not all Troy players were impressed.

“It wasn’t too bad,” said Calvin, a Troy cornerback who Bryant burned once for a score. “He got me on the first touchdown on a post route. Other than that, he wasn’t too difficult to guard. He really didn’t do too much.”

Injury note
Troy left the game relatively injury-free. Defensive end Brandon Lang tweaked his right knee and didn’t return, but Blakeney said after the game he was fine. Safety Terance Moore got dinged up early in the fourth game, but returned.

Calvin returns punts
Calvin outdueled senior Fred Turner and won the punt return battle in practice this week. He had a good night returning kicks though, getting 191 yards on seven kicks. OSU punted twice, but downed both.

Glusman still perfect
Junior kicker Sam Glusman nailed a 47-yarder late in the second half to cut OSU’s lead to 28-10. He hasn’t missed a field goal in six tries.
Tight end sits out for OSU

OSU tight end Brandon Pettigrew, an All-America tight end and projected high NFL Draft choice, didn’t play due to injury. Still, OSU had 612 yards of total offense.

“That’s one of the best offenses we’ve faced in my years at Troy, period,” Blakeney said. “They’re a really good, prolific offensive football team.”

Robinson rebounds
Last year, OSU quarterback Zac Robinson struggled in his first career start, throwing two interceptions against Troy in a 41-23 Trojan win.

This year, he was much better, throwing for 254 yards and missing on just five passes. He ran for 39 yards as well.

“We knew this team had speed on offense and we needed to wear them down,” OSU head coach Mike Gundy said. “His running game gives us another dimension.”

OSU ran for 358 yards on the night.

Captains
The Wiregrass was represented as Troy captains were receiver Kennard Burton, defensive tackle Maurice Coleman and long snapper Derick Thomas. Coleman is from Eufaula and Thomas from Elba.

BEST/WORST
Best Troy run: Jerrel Jernigan took a pitch and ran 38 yards to the OSU 35 on Troy’s first TD drive.

Best fake: OSU’s Zac Robinson baited Troy cornerback Trevor Ford, then hit Dez Bryant for a 44-yard TD pass to give OSU a 28-7 lead.

Best efficiency: OSU QB Zac Robinson went 13-of-14 in the first half for 213 yards.

Best punt: Troy’s Will Goggans boomed a 68-yarder in the second half as it rolled to the 1-yard line.

Best fake, part II: OSU’s Matt Fodge ran 16 yards on a fake punt.

Worst luck: On 4th and 9 on Troy’s first possession, Jamie Hampton fired a pass to Jerrel Jernigan while he was being hit, but the play went for just 8 yards.

Worst brain fart: OSU offensive lineman Russell Okung was called for a false start on back-to-back snaps, giving OSU 3rd and 12 instead of 3rd and 2 on its second possession of the game.

Worst ball control: Troy’s Jerrel Jernigan lost a fumble to OSU at the 26 of OSU in the second quarter as Troy was driving. Also, DuJuan Harris lost control of a ball that went out of bounds, negating a potential big gain.