Upon further review…

By Drew Champlin

Published: August 31, 2008

And I just watched the coaches’ show, led by Barry “Touchdown Men of Troy” McKnight. On the most important drive in the game, you know, after MTSU had cut the lead to 24-17 with 6:44 left, quarterback Jamie Hampton looked like a grizzled veteran on the field. Of course, so did Jerrel Jernigan and DuJuan Harris - all three true sophomores. A short drive there and MTSU probably ties it minutes later with the momentum they had. But, the Trojans milked 4:12 off the clock and finished it with a 13-yard TD run by Harris.

A couple of key plays on that drive that I didn’t get a good look at because I was on the sideline late in the game.

1. 3rd and 4 from the Troy 27, Hampton hits Jernigan in the backfield, he gets away from a sure tackle for loss and gains 8. First down.

2. 3rd and 3 from the Troy 42, Hampton probably should have been tackled for a loss, but he escapes, rolls left, keeps his composure and his head up, doesn’t look to run (because he might not have made it), throws a strike to Kennard Burton for a gain of 6 and a first down. Burton probably had to adjust his route, but he was open by the sideline.

Five plays later, Troy scored.

What I hope to do is find a couple of good and bad plays per game and ask the coaches and/or players to break it down. What was the called play? Why did it work? What made it blow up?

All that would be on this blog, so keep coming back. Don’t forget, Dothan Eagle Trojan Chat Thursday, 8 p.m. CST.