Troy's Woods has big night

Troy’s best kept secret is now out.

Bear Woods, who waited two years to earn a scholarship and three to become a starting linebacker, had a monster game in his first career start.

Woods, a fourth-year junior, led all defenders with 14 tackles. He had two sacks and three tackles for loss.

“I’ve been waiting for a long time, worked hard for a long time and I’ve had a long road,” Woods said. “I’m a die-hard Trojan. I’d give it all for all of those players and coaches. It just felt very natural to me.”

His and fellow linebacker Boris Lee’s game made sure that the Killer B’s lived up to their name. Lee’s 18-yard interception return set up Troy’s first score.

Lee, up 30 pounds from last year, had 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.

The play Woods will remember most is when he stuffed MTSU quarterback Joe Craddock on 4th and goal from the 1 late in the fourth quarter with Troy up 24-3.

“It’s a defensive player’s dream to be on the goal line right there,” Woods said. “When you’ve got your back to the wall, you’ve got to step up. That’s the plays that people remember.

“That play will be with me forever. That play wouldn’t have happened had Boris not closed him down from the side. All he could do was run right into me.”

Woods wasn’t nervous at all in his first start. He had played before, but never this much.

Glusman perfect
Sam Glusman’s only other action prior to Thursday was last year against Middle Tennessee. Troy won 45-7, but Glusman’s only kickoff sailed out of bounds.

In his first start as Troy’s kicker, Glusman was money on all four extra point attempts and drilled a 35-yard field goal.

He wasn’t the only special teamer with success. Redshirt freshman Michael Taylor’s first two kickoffs went into the end zone, and he finished with a quality night.

“I had more confidence in my kicking abilities,” Glusman said. “Mikey proved himself tonight. His first one was amazing. He had a hell of a night. Everybody did on special teams.

“It just felt like practice. Just practice in a different place.”

McClendon has a big run

The longest run of the night actually came from a 290-pound defensive tackle. Senior Steve McClendon, a former Carroll standout, recovered a fumble on a fourth down stop and ran it 67 yards, setting up a field goal that gave Troy a 17-3 lead at halftime.

McClendon has battled injuries his entire career but earned the start.

“I didn’t see anyone in front of me or behind me,” McClendon said. “Once I saw the ball, I tried to scoop and score. At one point I did, but I felt different when I got halfway down the field and I saw a little dude coming from the side.”

Position battles

Some battles were settled Thursday. At right guard, junior Steven Adams started over senior Wes Potter. At defensive end, Kenny Mainor and Cameron Sheffield started, while Brandon Lang rotated in.

For MTSU, Joe Craddock started at quarterback over sophomore Dwight Dasher.

Game still on as planned

Troy athletics director Steve Dennis said Troy and LSU officials feel confident next week’s game at LSU will go on as planned, despite the threat of Tropical Storm Gustav, which is expected to gain strength and could hit the Gulf Coast.

Dennis said he spoke with LSU officials on Thursday. If forecasts are correct, the storm would hit late this weekend, providing a large clean-up window, if necessary, before the game.

The game is set for 7 p.m. on Sept. 7.

Both teams have open dates on Nov. 15, but that remains an unlikely — and worst-case — scenario.

Headed for a redshirt?

The following newcomers didn’t make the trip to MTSU, meaning they could be on the redshirt list. They are quarterback Dan Parker, running back T.J. Mitchell, cornerback Bryan Willis, linebacker Jacoby Thomas, offensive tackles Kyle Wilborn and Jacob Creech, wideout Tebiarus Gill, defensive end Mario Addison and defensive tackles Tim Lamb and Chigozie Nwankwo. Pending eligibility issues, wideout Josh Jarboe and running back Chris Anderson didn’t travel wither.

Running back Xavier Moreland (collarbone) and receiver Gerald Tate (hamstring) missed the game due to injury.

Best / Worst
Best defensive play: On 4th and goal late in the first half, Cameron Sheffield forced a fumble on MTSU quarterback Joe Craddock. Defensive tackle Steve McClendon scooped it up and 67 yards to the MTSU 21.

Best punt: MTSU’s David DeFatta boomed a 52-yarder to open the second quarter.

Best recovery: Jamie Hampton hit Kennard Burton for a 30-yard gain, moments after a sure interception return for a touchdown was dropped by MTSU’s Chris McCoy. The Trojans scored a touchdown on the drive.

Worst decisions: MTSU went for it on fourth down three times in the game, but missed on all three.

Worst start: Troy’s offense got off to a slow start, running just seven plays in the first quarter. Two of Troy’s first three series went three-and-out, and the other was a 4-yard touchdown run.

Worst snap: Troy’s Derick Thomas bounced one to punter Will Goggans in the second quarter, and Goggans couldn’t handle it. MTSU recovered the fumble at the Troy 21 with 5:34 left in the first half. It was Thomas’ second bounced snap.