Troy out to prove win over Oklahoma State last year no fluke

Troy players say they expect Oklahoma State coaches and players to have Saturday’s game between the schools circled on their calendars.

Why? Troy isn’t some average non-conference school coming in for a payday. The Trojans humiliated OSU 41-23 last year in Troy on national television.

“You can look at the score and tell it wasn’t a fluke,” running back DuJuan Harris said.

“A fluke is a 7-point game. 41 to 23 and they ended up scoring late in the game? There’s no fluke in that.

“We’ve just got to get back out there and beat up on them again and get another W.”

The Trojans (2-1) get their shot in Saturday’s game with OSU (3-0) in Stillwater. The game will not be televised.

Last year, Troy put up 562 yards of total offense and was bolstered by a Leodis McKelvin 74-yard punt return for a score. The Trojans led 41-10 in the fourth quarter before OSU scored twice late.

Harris, a sophomore, mentioned Troy’s 31-17 season-opening win over Middle Tennessee and how the Blue Raiders beat Maryland and were a yard away from beating Kentucky at the last second.

Those scores, plus Troy’s ability to stay with Ohio State until the fourth quarter, gives him and teammates confidence that this year’s team isn’t one to overlook.

“I didn’t know if Middle Tennessee had an off night or is it ‘Are we just that good?’ ” Harris said.

“Then against Ohio State it made me think that we’re just that good. Dang, this team just played in a national championship?

“We’re not just a little team from a small town called Troy. People know us and I believe that we’ve gained their respect.”

Even with the win over Oklahoma State last year, it’s still another chance for Troy to prove its worth on the road against a team from a BCS conference.

Last week, Troy trailed Ohio State 14-10 going into the fourth quarter, but the two-time defending national runner-ups scored twice late to pull away.

“We never coach for consolation prizes,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. “Looking good and losing close is not an option at Troy. In the modern era of Troy University, football has been winning and winning championships. Consolation prizes are still Ls and that’s not what we’re all about.”

Mainor MRI Tuesday: Senior defensive end Kenny Mainor will have his MRI today, Troy spokesperson Ricky Hazel said, but coaches are still fearing the worst in that it’s a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and his season is over.

“It doesn’t help me much with my sleeping habits,” defensive ends coach Randy Butler said. “It’s not just his
playmaking ability, but he saw things on the field that some people don’t see — the depth of the back or the split of the linemen or the split of a tight end or somebody leaning in a stance. He could see that on the field and could see that on tape. He had that football instinct.”

Change in punt returner: Special teams coach Shayne Wasden said that Jorrick Calvin and Fred Turner would be the top options at punt returner, replacing Jerrel Jernigan.

Jernigan has electrifying speed and ability, but let one ball bounce to the 1-yard line and fair caught a ball at the 6-yard line.
“Jorrick gives a chance to break a long one and Fred’s a guy that will catch it and give us 10 yards straight up the field, which right now we’ll take that,” Wasden said.

“Jorrick has good speed but he’s been inconsistent catching the ball, but he will go get it and that’s what we’re looking for right now — somebody that will go get it.”

Jernigan is Troy’s leading receiver (22 catches, 203 yards, two scores) and top big-play guy.

“He’s not a natural punt catch guy, but that’s not his fault,” Wasden said. “He’s been there and he’s trying to do a good job for us, but we need someone that will go catch every one.”