Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Western Kentucky
Trojans Top Western Kentucky 21-17
11/10/2007 6:00:00 AM | Football
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. ? The Troy Trojans knew they would be in for a battle at Western Kentucky, and the Hilltoppers certainly provided one. The Trojans become bowl eligible with the 21-17 win Saturday night at L.T. Smith Stadium.
After jumping to an early 14-0 lead, the Trojans were forced to play most of the final quarter without senior quarterback Omar Haugabook, who left the game early in the fourth quarter after taking a hard hit.
With Haugabook out of the game, and the Trojans clinging to a 21-17 lead, it was the Troy defense that was charged with preserving the victory.
After the Trojans downed a punt at the Hilltopper one yard line, WKU drove 69 yards to the Trojan 30 but a holding penalty pushed WKU back to the 42 yard line.
With the game on the line, senior defensive end Shawn Todd sacked quarterback K.J. Black on fourth down giving the Trojans the ball with under a minute sealing the victory.
The Trojans opened the game like a team on a mission. Senior corner Elbert Mack gave Troy the ball with his seventh interception of the season of the first WKU possession of the game and the Troy offense used 11 plays to drive 81 yards to the end zone.
The two big plays of the drive were a 33-yard pass from Haugabook to Andrew Davis on third down and an option pass that turned into a 16-yard run for sophomore Cornelius Williams, down to the Hilltoppers' eight yard line, setting up Haugabook's five-yard scoring strike to Gary Banks at the 9:25 mark of the opening quarter.
The Trojans pushed their lead to 14-0 a short time later when WKU quarterback David Wolke fumbled and Troy senior defensive lineman Chris Bradwell scooped up the loose ball and ran 16 yards untouched into the end zone. Greg Whibbs' second PAT put Troy up 14-0 with 8:02 left in the first.
That was where the score stayed until late in the first half. The Trojans forced their third turnover of the game when Terrence Moore picked off a K.J. Black pass, but Troy was unable to convert and a penalty on the Trojans punt backed WKU up to its own seven with 7:49 to go in the half.
The Hilltoppers sent Black back into the game and, combined with sophomore running back Tyrell Hayden, he led WKU on a 16-play drive that consumed all but 22 seconds off the clock. Running their zone read play repeatedly, WKU covered the 93 yards to the end zone, and scored on an 11-yard pass from Black to senior Curtis Hamilton. The PAT cut Troy's lead to 14-7 at intermission.
The Trojans opened the second half with their second long drive of the game. The drive was highlighted by a season-long 35-yard run by Haugabook and a 21-yard completion to Gary Banks to inside the WKU five. Kenny Cattouse took care of the final three yards with 12:13 left in the third quarter, giving the Trojans a 21-7 lead.
Western Kentucky regained the momentum after stopping Troy on fourth down on the Trojans' next possession. The Hilltoppers needed just two plays to move 60 yards to a first down and goal at the Troy two. A false start penalty backed WKU up to the seven, but the Hilltoppers needed just two plays to get into the end zone, scoring on a one-yard run by junior Stephen Willis with 7:30 left in the quarter.
That jump in momentum got a huge boost on Troy's next possession when Haugabook was picked off by WKU's Chris Bullard, who returned the interception to the Troy 32. That momentum, however, did not result in points as the Troy defense stiffened and forced WKU into a 46-yard field goal attempt, which fell short.
The Hilltoppers did climb to within four, at 21-17, when James connected on a 19-yard field goal with 10:24 left to play. The field goal came after Willis ripped off an 86-yard run to the Troy two, but the Troy defense held WKU out of the end zone on three tries from inside the five.
The stage is now set for the annual "Battle of the Palladium" with rival Middle Tennessee. With a win, the Trojans will clinch a share of the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Championship.
The Trojans will be back in action on November 20 against Middle Tennessee. The game will be televised on ESPN 2 with kick-off at 6 p.m.
Troy vs. Western Kentucky Game Notes
* Today's game captains were Marcus Richardson, Omar Haugabook, Elbert Mack, and Gary Banks
* Troy started the game with five receivers for the second time this season. Troy started the FIU game with a five receiver set.
* Troy won the toss for the sixth game in a row and deferred on all six. Troy has forced four punts and two turnovers during that span.
* Elbert Mack intercepted his seventh pass of the season on the first possession for WKU. It was his fifth in the last five games and his third game in a row with an interception.
* Gary Banks caught a touchdown in the first quarter extending his consecutive games with a reception to 29 and it was his second touchdown catch of the season. It was the 12th touchdown of his career.
* Troy forced a fumble and Chris Bradwell returned it 16 yards for the touchdown. It was Troy's seventh non-offensive touchdown this season.
* Terrance Moore intercepted his first pass of the season in the second quarter. I was the third of his career.
* Omar Haugabook's 35-yard run in the third quarter was his longest rush of the season.
* The 86-yard run by Steven Willis was the longest rush given up by the Trojan defense.
