Intensity Will Be Key as Trojans Host ULL

TROY GAME NOTES | SUN BELT CONFERENCE RELEASE

Veterans Memorial Stadium has been a good place to the Troy Trojans football team over the years. There is no place they would rather be as they suit up for another Sun Belt Conference match in the “Drive for Five” this weekend.

The Trojans will host the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday night, and the outcome of that game will put one team in position for a run at the Sun Belt title.

The Trojans and Ragin' Cajuns will kickoff at 6 p.m. and the game will not be televised. Radio coverage will be available over the Troy ISP Sports Network and the game will be web streamed live on TroyTrojans.com.

Trojans coach Larry Blakeney knows the Cajuns will be ready when they get to Troy on Saturday.

“They are a team that I thought played pretty well against Oklahoma State at home in a Friday night game,” Blakeney said. “I think they are hurting a little bit with some injuries, but we have to prepare for their guys because all of them will be back for Troy. We have to get a plan and get going on it.”

We usually give the team an extra day when we have a week like this with some time off. We got in some pretty good work time last evening on both sides of the ball. We are looking forward to the game at home. It will be a six o'clock kick with no TV, so the stage is set for us to do something positive again."

Much of the plan for Troy on defense will be to continue to positive momentum started in the win over Middle Tennessee. The Trojans held MTSU to just 207 yards of total offense in that game, but will face a ULL team that put up more than 500 yards against them last year.

“They have given us some problems with formations and running the ball in the past,” Blakeney said. “Their quarterback, (Chris) Masson, is a good player. He can throw the football and they have some weapons.”

One of the primary weapons for the Cajuns is junior tight end Ladarius Green. Despite having missed the last two games with an ankle injury, he is still ULL's leading receiver. He was named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, which is given to the nation's top tight end.

Getting the game at home, however, is what the Trojans are most excited about. Since taking over the Troy program, Blakeney's teams have an 87-11-1 mark at home. That record is even more impressive since the move to what is now the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Since the start of the 2001 season, Troy has a 41-5 mark at home, good for the fourth best winning percentage (.891) in the FBS. Only Oklahoma (.967), USC (.909) and Ohio State (.897) have better home marks over that time.

“We have been pretty good at home over the years and we need to make sure we don't forget the legacy that has been set over that period of time,” Blakeney said. “Part of that legacy has been set by the guys that are here right now. We have to get back to work and get our plan in and get our hearts ready for a fight, because it will be a fight.”

The Ragin' Cajuns hosted Oklahoma State last Friday, falling 54-28 in the contest that proved to be much more of a battle in the early portion than the score indicates. In Sun Belt play, the Ragin' Cajuns have posted wins over Arkansas State and North Texas, with a loss to Middle Tennessee.

Blakeney will tell you that while the Trojans are improving through the progression of the season, they still aren't where they need to be or where they will need be to defeat Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Troy players also recognize that now is not the time to be content with their recent victory.

“We had a very productive week last week, we just have to go out this week with the same mentality,” sophomore defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi said. “We have to stay hungry and I believe that is what we are going to do. Coming off a big game like that, and having some time off, allowed us to have some time to recuperate in many areas. We are going to practice this week with our heads on right and get ready for this weekend.”

The Sun Belt's offensive player of the week, quarterback Corey Robinson, said the Trojans are close to clicking on all cylinders offensively. The squad could take another step in the right direction against the Cajuns, especially if senior receiver Jerrel Jernigan is fully healed from minor elbow surgery.

“We are starting to get more balance and I think you will start to see us click even more as the season goes on because we are inches away from being a very good offense,” Robinson said. “I think we have a chance to stack up well, not only in the league but with teams around the nation because we have the offensive line and the guys at the skill positions to do that.”

Jernigan said that even though he is not yet 100 percent, he knows he has to play through minor injuries.

“I feel a lot better, but I am still not 100 percent,” Jernigan said. “I have been begging the trainers to take the stitches out of my arm, but they don't want to take them out yet. Whenever I get those stitches out, I'll feel much better. Coming into this game, I know that you have to play through injuries and I am prepared to do that.”

While Jernigan was slowed by the tender elbow against Middle Tennessee, senior Tebiarus Gill stepped up and had a big game. His second TD reception, early in the third quarter, set the course for the Trojans to roll to the victory.

“It all started earlier in the drive when Corey threw to Brett (Moncrief),” Gill said. “When he came to me, it looked like Middle was trying to call a timeout, but Corey saw that. I knew that I had to make that play because we couldn't go for three. I knew that if we had gone for three, we would have been in a dog-fight.”

Even with the success of the offense in the win over Middle, it was the way the defense stepped up that secured the victory.

“The defense played their best game of the year and I hope they are able to stand up like that the rest of the year,” Gill said. “The defense really flew around like they did back in the spring. Hopefully, they will be able to come out and play like that again and we just keep our foot on the gas pedal. We just have to stay focused.”

Overall, the Trojans finally got the complete game they have been looking for. The key now is to repeat that performance this week against ULL and, down the road, against the rest of the foes on the schedule.

“Effort was definitely a big key,” Massaquoi said. “That was our mind-set going into the game. We knew that it was a big game, on national television, and there aren't that many times when you get a chance to prove what you are worth. That is what we have been working for. We definitely worked on the plan we had and had a great week of practice.”

The time off since the Middle Tennessee victory has been a positive for the team, allowing some bumps and bruises time to heal. On Saturday, the Trojans will try to turn back on the intensity of that win and keep the “Drive for Five” alive in 2010.

Troy University Athletics

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