Troy University Athletics
Trojans Drop Season Finale to MTSU, 17-7
11/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Troy University football team could not overcome a 17-0 first-half deficit as it fell 17-7 to Middle Tennessee in its final game of the season on Saturday night.
The Trojans (4-7, 3-4 Sun Belt) were playing without seven players who had been suspended following the Arkansas State game, including three offensive starters.
They whipped us physically,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. We had some opportunities to get back in the game, but didn't. The loss tonight was not for a lack of effort or work. You have to give credit to Middle Tennessee. I am proud of our guys for not shutting down.”
On their opening drive, the Blue Raiders (4-6, 3-3 Sun Belt) had a 45-yard touchdown pass from Clint Marks to Cleannord Saintil called back after MTSU was flagged for holding. The Trojans defense forced Middle Tennessee to punt, and Troy took over on its own 11.
On third and five from the Troy 16, MTSU's Roy Polite grabbed a deflected Carl Meadows pass and returned it three yards to set the Blue Raiders up at the Troy 14. Eugene Gross took the ball 11 yards down the left sideline to give MTSU first and goal at the Troy three. The Blue Raiders handed the ball off to Gross for the next three plays, and on third and goal from the one he took it in for the score. Colby Smith's PAT gave MTSU a 7-0 lead with 7:54 left in the first quarter.
After forcing the Trojans to punt on their next possession, the Blue Raiders drove 71 yards on 14 plays, capped by a 1-yard run by Gross for the score with 13:29 left in the first half. The Blue Raiders kept that drive alive with a 30-yard pass from Marks to Stephen Chicola on third-and-one from the Troy 45.
After the teams traded punts, MTSU took over on its own nine with 6:29 remaining in the half. On third-and-two from their own 43, Marks connected with Chicola for a 19-yard gain. It was Chicola's seventh catch of the first half, and the sixth third-down conversion for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders moved the ball to the Troy 18. On third-and-10, Leodis McKelvin recorded his first career sack, stopping Marks back at the Troy 25. With four seconds left in the half, Smith kicked a career-long 45-yard field goal to give Middle Tennessee a 17-0 halftime lead.
Meadows completed five passes as the Trojans drove 66 yards on their first possession of the second half. On second-and-four from the MTSU nine, Gary Banks caught a pass from Meadows at the one and escaped a tackler to reach the end zone. The touchdown put Troy on the board and cut the Blue Raiders lead to 17-7 with 10:12 left in the third quarter.
Still trailing 17-7, the Trojans took over on their own eight with 6:32 left in the game. Troy put together five straight plays of 16 or more yards to quickly drive to the MTSU 12. Meadows completed a nine-yard pass to Toris Rutledge to advance to the MTSU two. A one-yard run by Sean Dawkins gave the Trojans first-and-goal from the Blue Raiders' one. The Trojans rushed four times from the one, but on fourth-and-goal the MTSU defense held to prevent the score and maintain a 10-point lead with 3:12 left to play.
After the Trojans defense held MTSU to three-and-out, McKelvin returned a punt 25 yards to give Troy the ball at the Middle Tennessee 26 with 90 seconds remaining. Meadows was sacked on Troy's next two plays, backing the Trojans up to the 41. Troy's final pass attempt fell short with 10 seconds left on the clock to seal the win for the Blue Raiders.
The Trojans gained 304 yards offensively, but only converted 2-of-11 third down attempts. Meadows completed 17-of-31 pass attempts for 226 yards. He was intercepted twice and threw one touchdown pass. Banks caught three passes for 52 yards and one touchdown. Smokey Hampton had five catches for 46 yards. Joel Whinghter led Troy with 34 yards rushing on six carries.
Marks completed 18-of-27 attempts for 146 yards. Chicola led MTSU with nine catches for 86 yards. Ronald Steed led the Blue Raiders with 72 yards on 20 carries. Gross finished with 54 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
Before the game, Troy recognized 13 seniors playing in their final game for the Trojans. The loss ends the fourth losing season in Blakeney's 15-year tenure at Troy.
TROY GAME NOTES
• Troy won the opening coin toss, and deferred its decision, for the 10th time this season. UAB was the only Trojans opponent in 2005 to win the opening toss.
• Troy sophomore defensive end Shawn Todd made the first start of his career in the game. Todd started in place of redshirt freshman Kenny Mainor, who had started the first 10 games this year.
• Sophomore receiver Gary Banks took his first snaps at quarterback in the game for Troy. He is the fourth player to play quarterback for the Trojans this season, joining Carl Meadows, Julian Foster and Larry Dockery.
• Running back Kenny Cattouse's 42-yard reception in the second quarter was a career-long. His career receiving total prior to the play was four receptions for seven yards.
• Senior receiver Blake Broadhurst, playing in his final game for the Trojans, made his first reception since the 2003 season, a gain of 17 yards.
• Sophomore defensive back Leodis McKelvin saw playing time in the game at receiver. McKelvin also recorded his first career sack in the second quarter.
• The Trojans were held scoreless in the first half for the third time this season. It was the fifth game this year in which Troy was held without a touchdown in the first half.
• The Troy University baseball team was awarded its 2005 Atlantic Sun Conference championship rings during a halftime ceremony on the field. Trojans punter Thomas Olmsted was one of the players who received his ring.
• Sophomore receiver Gary Banks recorded his first career pass completion in the fourth quarter on a throw back to quarterback Carl Meadows. The four-yard gain was also Meadows' first career reception.
• Junior quarterback Carl Meadows had a career-best 16-yard rush for a first down in the fourth quarter.
