Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Western Kentucky (HC)
Troy Gains Bowl Eligibility with 17-7 Win
11/8/2008 6:00:00 AM | Football
TROY ? Levi Brown threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns and DuJuan Harris ran for over 100 yards for the second consecutive game as the Troy Trojans defeated Western Kentucky University 17-7 in Sun Belt Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
With the homecoming victory the Trojans improved their record to 6-3 and gained bowl eligibility for the third consecutive season. The win also improved the Trojans to 34-12-1 since 1951 on homecoming. They have won 12 consecutive homecoming games.
Brown completed 30-of-46 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw his second interception of the year. Harris finished with 101 yards rushing on 23 carries. Brown's 298 yards marks the 28th time under Larry Blakeney a passer has thrown for at least 250 yards in a game.
“It was one of those games where you felt like you were just on the verge of extending yourself and getting it over early. But it's a win and a win is a win and its homecoming and I'm happy,” head coach Larry Blakeney said. “We are going to enjoy this win here at homecoming and starting tomorrow we are going to get ready for LSU.”
It took just three plays for the Trojans to reach the end zone when Brown hit Andrew Davis on a post route for 58 yards and a touchdown. The drive took just 40 seconds for Troy to go 65 yards and get an early 7-0 lead.
The touchdown was Davis' second in two games and just his second of the season. The 58 yard reception was the longest of his career. He finished the afternoon with five catches for 101 yards, a career-high.
Another Trojan receiver picked up Troy's next score to cap a nine-play, 63-yard drive when Brown hooked up with Gerald Tate from nine yards out for the score. Tate became ninth Trojan to record a receiving touchdown in 2008. It was also his first touchdown since he scored against FAU on December 1, 2007.
Hilltopper quarterback Brandon Smith was intercepted by safety Tavares Williams on the final play of the first half. The interception was his second of the season.
To start the second half Troy picked up a roughing the kicker penalty on a WKU punt, and following the penalty the Hilltoppers drove 95 yards on 12 plays for their first touchdown of the game. Smith ran for 20 yards on the touchdown scoring play to cut the Trojan lead to 14-7.
Troy's first drive of the second half resulted in a Sam Glusman 34-yard field goal and it also featured the return of wide out Jerrel Jernigan, who missed last weekend's game against ULM.
The sophomore recorded two catches for 35 yards on the drive. The field goal pushed Troy's lead to 17-7. Jernigan finished the game with 88 yards and a team-high six receptions, all in the second half.
Facing a 4th and seven, WKU attempted a fake punt, but the Trojans snuffed it out with Kedric Manning and Bryant McKissic making the play. On the ensuing drive Brown was picked off in the end zone for a touchback by Ryan Beard, but the Hilltoppers managed just two first downs before punting it away.
Glusman also missed a 35-yarder and a 36-yarder in the fourth quarter. After starting the season six-for-seven, Glusman has missed seven of his last 11 attempts in the last three contests.
Brandon Lang recorded a sack for the fifth consecutive game, for the season he has five-and-a-half quarterback sacks. Dion Gales recorded four tackles along with a sack and a tackle for a loss. Boris Lee posted seven tackles, one for a loss and a sack.
WKU was led offensively by the quarterback Smith with 99 total yards and one rushing touchdown.
The Trojans will be in action next on November 15 when they travel to Baton Rouge, La. to face LSU. Kick off is set for 7 PM.
- Today's game captains were Sherrod Martin, Derrick Thomas, and Fred Turner. They were also accompanied by the entire senior class.
- Andrew caught a career long pass on a 58-yard reception for a touchdown on the third play of the game.
- Bear Woods started for the first time in three games.
- Junior Travis Boyd caught his first pass of the season in the second quarter making him the 22nd player to catch a pass this season.
- Gerald Tate's touchdown reception in the second quarter makes him the ninth different person to catch a touchdown pass this season. It was also his first touchdown of the season.
- Jerrell Jernigan caught six passes tongiht in his first appearance since he hurt his knee against North Texas.
- Levi Brown threw his second interception in two games with a pass in the end zone in the third quarter.
- The Trojans improved to 34-12-1 all-time on homecoming and 16-1-1 under Larry Blakeney. The win was the 12th consecutive homecoming win.
- For the 28th time under Larry Blakeney, a passer threw for at least 250 yards in a game.
