By K. SMITH
MOBILE, ALA -- The two teams may have combined for 51 points, but defenses played a huge role as the Troy Trojans edged Ohio's Bobcats 28-24 in the 2016 Dollar General Bowl Friday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The Bobcats outgained Troy 393-322 and held Troy to 87 yards rushing. It was the sixth time this season Ohio's defense held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing. However, Troy's defense also put up some good numbers. Tops among them was the number five, as the Trojans took advantage of five Ohio turnovers.
Four of those turnovers were . . .
MOBILE, ALA -- The two teams may have combined for 51 points, but defenses played a huge role as the Troy Trojans edged Ohio's Bobcats 28-24 in the 2016 Dollar General Bowl Friday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The Bobcats outgained Troy 393-322 and held Troy to 87 yards rushing. It was the sixth time this season Ohio's defense held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing. However, Troy's defense also put up some good numbers. Tops among them was the number five, as the Trojans took advantage of five Ohio turnovers.
Four of those turnovers were . . .
. . . interceptions, aided by a fierce pass rush that pressured OU senior quarterback Greg Windham all night. He finished the evening completing 23 of 47 for 316 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Troy's defense also came up with some key stops, particularly late in the contest when the Trojans were able to limit or avoid Ohio points in a close contest.
Ohio quarterback Greg Windham was under heavy pressure from a tenacious Troy defense much of the day. (MVSmith/MRO file) Ohio never owned the lead, thanks in no small part to turnovers but it managed to keep the Trojans from pulling away. Troy scored quickly, using just two plays to cover 48 yards on its very first possession. Quarterback Brandon Silvers lofted a 47-yard pass to Deondre Douglas on Troy's first play from scrimmage. That put Troy at Ohio one, and Jordan Chunn rammed his way in on the next play.
The two teams combined to throw four interceptions on the next five drives. In between, Ohio put together a seven-play, 99-yard drive to tie the game at 7-7. Papi White covered the last 44 yards on a long pass from Windham.
Troy went back in front with a touchdown late in the first period. Chunn’s 3-yard run capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive at 1:14 and gave his team a 14-7 advantage.
Freshman Louie Zervos kicked the first of his three field goals on the day at 13:20 of the second quarter. The two teams then traded TDs before intermission. Emanuel Thomas tallied for Troy on an 11 yard reception at 4:32. Jordan Reid pulled in a 5-yard strike from Windham for an Ohio TD with 59 ticks left.
Troy built its second 11-point lead of the game thanks to an Ohio turnover deep its own red zone. A Trojan punt had pinned the ‘Cats down at their own 2-yard line. After a four yard run, Windham attempted to pass. The ball was batted at the line and ended up in the hands of 319-pound sophomore defensive tackle Trevon Sanders, who was tackled at the four. Troy, the first Sun Belt team to crack the Top 25 poll, forced 18 turnovers over its final five games.
The two teams combined to throw four interceptions on the next five drives. In between, Ohio put together a seven-play, 99-yard drive to tie the game at 7-7. Papi White covered the last 44 yards on a long pass from Windham.
Troy went back in front with a touchdown late in the first period. Chunn’s 3-yard run capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive at 1:14 and gave his team a 14-7 advantage.
Freshman Louie Zervos kicked the first of his three field goals on the day at 13:20 of the second quarter. The two teams then traded TDs before intermission. Emanuel Thomas tallied for Troy on an 11 yard reception at 4:32. Jordan Reid pulled in a 5-yard strike from Windham for an Ohio TD with 59 ticks left.
Troy built its second 11-point lead of the game thanks to an Ohio turnover deep its own red zone. A Trojan punt had pinned the ‘Cats down at their own 2-yard line. After a four yard run, Windham attempted to pass. The ball was batted at the line and ended up in the hands of 319-pound sophomore defensive tackle Trevon Sanders, who was tackled at the four. Troy, the first Sun Belt team to crack the Top 25 poll, forced 18 turnovers over its final five games.
Freshman kicker Louie Zervos kicked three field goals against Troy. (MVSmith/MRO) Chunn scored his third TD on the next play, giving the Trojans a 28-17 lead at 5:47 of the third period. His 4-yarder turned out to be the game’s final touchdown. While the Trojans failed to score again, they limited Ohio to a pair of Zervos field goals (47, 37). In between, he missed a 46-yard try.
The Bobcats last possession started at their own 15 with 2:14 left in the contest. Windham hit Jordan Reid for 11 yards and a first down on the second play of the drive. However, three incompletions under heavy pressure on the quarterback followed.
It was 4th-and-10 when Windham hit Bo Hardy with a pass, but the senior ended up one yard short of the marker. Troy took over with 1:19 left and ran out the clock for its victory.
The Bobcats last possession started at their own 15 with 2:14 left in the contest. Windham hit Jordan Reid for 11 yards and a first down on the second play of the drive. However, three incompletions under heavy pressure on the quarterback followed.
It was 4th-and-10 when Windham hit Bo Hardy with a pass, but the senior ended up one yard short of the marker. Troy took over with 1:19 left and ran out the clock for its victory.
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