Troy University Athletics
Troy University
LSU
Trojans Lose Lead and Fall to LSU, 40-31
11/15/2008 6:00:00 AM | Football
BATON ROUGE, La. ? The Troy Trojans found out Saturday night just how dangerous a Tiger that is backed into a corner can be.
"This is a funny game and a heck of a game," Larry Blakeney said. "We had our way in the first half and started the third quarter good and got up 31-3 but somebody woke them up. I don't know if it was us or the fans leaving but they got woken up in a hurry."
The Trojans went into famed "Death Valley" and completely dominated LSU into the third quarter, building a 31-3 lead. But LSU summoned some of its national championship backbone, and put on a furious rally over the final 17 minutes of the game to turn a potential homecoming disaster into a stunning 40-31 come-from behind victory.
The Trojans forced LSU to punt the ball with 6:43 left in the fourth quarter. The Tigers punted the ball but on the bounce, it hit off Jorrick Calvin and the Tigers recovered it the Troy's 20-yard line with 6:24 left on the clock.
Four plays later, the Tigers punched it in the end zone on a three-yard run from Charles Scott to take their first lead of the game at 33-31 with 4:50 left on the clock. Colt David missed the PAT following the score.
Troy returned the kick-off to the 33 yard line setting up the its final drive of the game. Levi Brown found Jerrel Jernigan for a 30-yard completion but a holding penalty negated the long play. After incomplete passes on second down and third down, the Trojans failed to convert a fourth and 15 turning the ball over and ending any chance of the upset.
With the ball back in their hands, Scott ripped off a 24-yard run up the middle giving LSU a first down from the Trojans' two yard line. Three plays later, Quinn Johnson scored from two yards out putting the icing on the cake for the Tigers.
The Troy defense thoroughly dominated the first half of the game, holding LSU's powerful rushing attack to just 47 yards. The Tigers managed just 63 yards of total offense and two first downs during the opening half.
Troy, on the other hand, showed little concern for LSU's 24th ranked defense, piling up 255 yards in the first half, including 204 yards passing by Brown.
The Trojans couldn't have started their visit to Tiger Stadium any better. After forcing LSU to punt after three plays, Troy methodically marched down the field, covering 88 yards in 16 plays, 15 of them passes. The final seven yards came on a pass from Brown to Patrick Cherry with 9:18 left in the opening quarter.
Sam Glusman added the PAT, giving Troy a 7-0 lead.
LSU answered, but managed just a field goal from senior Colt David. His career-best 52-yard effort with 6:16 left in the first capped a seven-play drive that covered 27 yards.
Troy continued to move the ball with ease, using just seven plays to cover 67 yards, with senior receiver Kennard Burton covering the final yard for his first career rushing touchdown at the 4:00 mark of the first quarter. Glusman's PAT increased the Troy lead to 14-3.
After the Troy defense again held the Tigers without a first down, the Trojans took over at their own 42, and drove to the LSU five before stalling. After three consecutive throws into the end zone failed to connect, Glusman came on and nailed a 23-yard field goal at the 10:08 mark, pushing the Troy lead to 17-3.
The Trojans pushed their lead to 24-3 at the 6:46 mark of the second quarter when senior Terence Moore picked off a Jarrett Lee pass and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. It was the first defensive score of the year for Troy, but the seventh time this year Lee has had an interception returned for a score.
Troy made its first major mistake of the game late in the third quarter when sophomore DuJuan Harris put the ball on the ground on a controversial fumble that was upheld by official review. The Tigers took over at the Troy 42, but managed just nine yards before lining up for a field goal to close the half.
The kick never materialized, however, as Sherrod Martin broke through the line, forcing a desperation pass attempt by holder Brady Dalfrey. The throw fell incomplete, ending the half with Troy holding a 24-3 lead.
The Trojans opened the second half in much the same manner that they opened the game. Brown completed eight-of-10 passes in the drive, which covered 79 yards and ended in an eight-yard scoring pass to Harris at the 11:13 mark of the third. Glusman's PAT pushed Troy's lead to 31-3.
LSU answered with its best offensive showing of the night. The Tigers moved the ball 66 yards in 13 plays, capped by a three-yard touchdown run from freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson with 1:26 left in the third. David added the PAT, cutting Troy's lead to 31-10.
During the LSU drive, the Tigers picked up six first downs, which was four more than they had in the entire first half. Lee completed five-of-eight passes for 46 yards during the possession, which also surpassed his production from the entire first half.
After Troy went three-and-out on its next possession, LSU went right down the field for another touchdown. The Tigers needed just five plays and 1:18 off the clock to cover 86 yards. Lee hit Brandon LaFell for a 33-yard scoring strike with 14:00 left in the game, and David's PAT cut the Troy advantage to 31-17.
After Calvin returned the kickoff into LSU territory, the Trojans failed to pick up a first down and turned the ball back over to the Tigers on downs.
LSU drove right down the field, again, covering 60 yards in seven plays. Lee was a perfect four-of-four on the drive, gaining 36 yards, with 15 more on a Troy penalty. Fullback Quinn Johnson powered over from the one with 10:33 left, and David's PAT cut the Troy lead to 31-24.
The Trojans return home for the final two games of the season. The first opponent will be Louisiana Lafayette next Saturday with kick-off set for 6 pm. With a win, the Trojans can clinch at least a share of their third consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship.
Troy vs LSU Game Notes
- The TrojanToday's game captains were Dion Gales, Jorrick Calvin and Rashad Roussell. All of the players are from Louisiana.
- The Trojans won the coin toss and deferred their decision to the second half. LSU chose to receive the ball.
- Wesley Potter started the game at the tight end position wearing a different number. Dion Small also split out wide on Troy's opening drive of the game.
- The opening drive for Troy was the longest of the season in number of plays and total yards. The drive went 16 plays for 93 yards and ended with a touchdown.
- Patrick Cherry caught his first touchdown pass of the season on the opening drive for Troy.
- Cherry's TD catch made him the 10th different person to catch a touchdown pass this season. Troy leads the nation in the category.
- Kennard Burton scored a rushing touchdown in the first quarter. It the first rushing score for Burton.
- Terence Moore picked of his fourth pass of the season and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.
- For the fourth time in the last five games, Levi Brown has thrown for over 250 yards.
- Levi Brown set a career-high with 72 pass attempts. He completed 34 for 316 yards.
