Troy University Athletics
Haugabook 's Passing Keys 24-17 Win over Florida Atlantic
11/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Omar Haugabook passed for 325 yards -- the second best day in Troy's Division I-A history -- and Mykeal Terry caught two long touchdown passes to lead Troy to a 24-17 victory over Florida Atlantic Saturday evening at Lockhart Stadium.
Terry, a sophomore, took receptions to the endzone from 67 yards out for a 14-10 second-quarter lead and from 54 yards out to break a 17-17 tie midway through the third quarter.
Haugabook finished the day 20-of-29 for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Three of the passes are among to seven longest in Troy's Division I-A history, the two to Terry and a 70-yarder to trois Rutledge for the first score. Only Brock Nutter had a better day -- 339 yards against Cal State Northridge in 2001.
With the win, the Trojans (5-4, 4-0) stay just behind Middle Tennessee in the race for the Sun Belt Conference title. The win for Troy snapped a seven-game road losing streak dropped FAU falls to 3-7 overall on the year, 2-3 in league play.
I am tickled to death with this team for beating a very, very good football team,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. We were certainly concerned about FAU. They are so fluid and they have people who can make things happen.”
Despite the offensive fireworks, it was an outstanding play on defense that secured the victory for the Trojans. FAU was driving toward what would have been a game-tying touchdown before junior Leodis McKelvin jumped in front of a Rusty Smith pass in the corner of the end zone with 2:46 left to play.
He has been all over some plays, and it was a great time for that one to come,” Blakeney said.
McKelvin, who made a rare mistake in the kicking game earlier, costing the Trojans field position, said he saw the pass out of the corner of his eye on the interception.
They ran a wheel route on us, and I saw it out of the corner of my eye and was able to make a play of the ball,” McKelvin said. It was the perfect time for me to make a big play because I had a couple of busted assignments earlier.”
The offensive fireworks for Troy came primarily from the combination of Haugabook and sophomore receiver Mykeal Terry, but senior Toris Rutledge for the scoring started Troy's second possession when he took a slant pass over the middle 70-yards for a touchdown. It was the second longest pass play in Troy's Division IA football history.
Every week someone new steps up and makes big plays for us,” Haugabook said. Last week it was the running game that stepped up, and this week it was the passing game. They couldn't stop up tonight. We were the ones stopping ourselves early.”
FAU answered back with a big play on its next possession when redshirt freshman quarterback Rusty Smith connected with Frantz Simeon for a 54-yard gain. The play would have gone for a tying touchdown, but a holding call against the Owls' Casey McGahee short-circuited the score and left FAU with a first down at the Troy 20.
Three plays later Smith connected with Aaron Sanchez for an eight-yard TD, knotting the score at 7-7 with 6:27 left in the first quarter.
FAU took a 10-7 lead early in the second period by driving 60-yards, to the Troy 10, in 10 plays where kicker Warley Leroy connected on a 27-yard field goal.
Troy regained the lead late in the half when Haugabook hooked up with Mykeal Terry on a throw-back screen, and Terry went 67 yards for a touchdown. The play was the third longest pass play in Troy's Division IA history.
The coaches told the receivers that we all had to step up tonight, but it just happened to be me that made the big plays,” Terry said. It could have been anyone who made the big plays, but Omar trusted me and the line did a great job of blocking.”
The Trojans pushed their advantage to 17-10 on their first possession of the second half when Greg Whibbs connected on a 41-yard field goal to cap a five play drive that covered 25 yards. It was Whibbs' longest field goal of the year.
The Owls came right back on their next possession to tied the score when Smith connected with tight end Jamari Grant on a 14-yard TD pass to cap a 10-play, 82-yard drive, consuming 4:36 off the clock. The drive was assisted by a pair of third down conversions by FAU as well as personal foul penalty on Troy's Franklin Lloyd.
The Trojans answered in short order thanks in part to a Leodis McKelvin return of the FAU kickoff to near midfield. After Haugabook hit Marlo East for a short gain, he connected with Terry again, this time on a go route down the left side for a 54-yard score and a 24-17 lead.
Troy had a chance to pad its lead after a Boris Lee interception gave the Trojans the ball deep in FAU territory, but Whibbs misfired on a 37-yard field goal attempt, leaving Troy with a seven-point lead.
The Trojans missed out on another scoring opportunity after driving deep into FAU territory early in the fourth quarter. The possession stalled after junior Gary Banks was unable to pull down a Haugabook pass in the end zone and then Whibbs missed his second field goal of the night, this one from 42 yards out.
I hate that we missed those field goals because either one of them would have iced the game,” Blakeney said. Any of these Sun Belt game could go either way. We were fortunate to win this one and now we have Arkansas State coming to our house next week. That is the only game we are worried about now.”
The Trojans posted season highs for total offense (454 yards) and passing (325 yards) in the game with Haugabook hitting on 20-of-29 passes for the 325 and three scores. Terry caught five of the passes for 153 yards and two scores while junior Kenny Cattouse again led the ground attack with 18 carries for 91 yards.
The Trojans will close the home portion of the 2006 schedule next Saturday night at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium against Arkansas State. The Indians have beaten Troy each of the last two years, with both games having been played in Jonesboro. Kickoff for the game is set for 6 p.m.c
Troy Game Notes
A 67-yard screen pass from Haugabook to Mykeal Terry for a score in the second quarter was the third-longest pass play in Troy's Division I history. The duo connected again for 54 yards and a score in the third period, which tied for sixth on the long receptions list.
Ironically, the previous second-best day was Julian Foster's 271 yards against the Owls last year.
