Troy University Athletics
Trojans Capture Palladium With 37-17 Win Over Raiders
11/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Troy University said goodbye to 25 seniors in style as it cruised past the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee 37-17 in football action Saturday night in front of 18,871 soggy fans at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium.
The rain that came down throughout the game did nothing to dampen the spirits of the players and the fans as Troy finished out the regular season with its fourth consecutive win. The Trojans improved to 7-4 overall on the season and clinched second place in the Sun Belt Conference with a 5-2 mark. Middle Tennessee fell to 5-6 overall and 4-4 in league play.
Troy started quickly out of the gates as it scored on two of its first three drives of the first quarter. Two touchdown passes from D.T. McDowell to Jason Samples gave Troy a 14-0 lead midway through the opening period.
Middle Tennessee responded in the second quarter with a 67-yard touchdown run by DeMarco McNair and a Colby Smith 27 yard field goal which made the score 14-10.
Heading into halftime, Troy Head Coach Larry Blakeney was looking for ways to ensure a Trojan victory.
"At halftime we talked about what we have to do," Blakeney said. "We wanted to generate something the first five minutes of the third quarter and to stop all the silly penalties."
Greg Whibbs opened the third quarter scoring with a 22-yard field goal. On Middle Tennessee's ensuing drive, fifth-year senior Robby Farmer intercepted a Clint Marks pass and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. The Blue Raiders blocked the extra point making the score Troy 23, Middle Tennessee 10.
It was another fifth-year senior returning an interception for a touchdown that gave the Trojans a 20-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Derrick Ansley's 16-yard interception return for a touchdown not only made the score 30-10 but it also broke the record for interception returns for a touchdown in a season with four on the year.
Each team added another touchdown in the fourth quarter. Middle Tennessee scored on a Kerry Wright touchdown reception from backup quarterback Josh Harris. It was yet another fifth-year senior who scored the final points of the night as Jermaine Richardson rushed for a 61-yard touchdown.
The victory for the Trojans over the Blue Raiders marked several firsts for Troy. It was the first time Troy defeated Middle Tennessee in Movie Gallery Stadium, it was the first time the two teams met in the Sun Belt Conference, and it was also the first game for the "Palladium," a trophy that will go back and forth between Troy and Middle Tennessee to whichever team wins the annual football game.
"This win tonight was a great win for our program," Blakeney said. "We've always played there and we haven't won. The Palladium is a good thing that I hope will help the sportsmanship of college football."
Troy gained 366 yards of offense on the night with 244 yards coming on the ground. Senior DeWhitt Betterson led the Trojan ground attack gaining 123 yards on 22 attempts. Freshman quarterback D.T. McDowell completed eight-of-17 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
McNair led the Blue Raider ground attack with 73 yards on five carries. Marks finished the night completing 17-of-32 pass attempts for 131 but also threw three interceptions. Harris completed 10-of-14 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.
"I had hoped we would win this league," Blakeney said. "We came very close to that but we had two losses to two good football teams on the road."
Troy is still in the hunt for a bowl game, with several at-large bids available. Coach Blakeney is optimistic about Troy's chances.
"If there is a chance we will be glad, if there isn't we'll be disappointed," Blakeney said. "But winning out and beating Middle Tennessee is still a flavor to savor."
Trojans Game Notes
