Trojans Hope To Build On Momentum From Opening Victory

Saturday, September 11

Stillwater, Ola.

6:05 p.m.

Troy University

Oklahoma State

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

Trojans Hope To Build On Momentum From Opening Victory

9/8/2010 1:42:21 PM | Football

Troy takes on Oklahoma State Saturday night, there is no television for the game

By: Ben Stanfield

TROY GAME NOTES | OSU GAME NOTES | SUN BELT RELEASE | BIG XII RELEASE
AUDIO FROM MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE | QUOTES FROM MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE

The confines of Veterans Memorial Stadium proved to be friendly once again for the Troy Trojans in the opening week of the 2010, but the Trojans will suit up in their road uniforms this weekend against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Troy (1-0) and Oklahoma State (1-0) will face-off in the final game of a three-game series Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:05 pm. The game can be heard on the Troy ISP Sports Network with “The Voice of the Trojans”, Barry McKnight, taking you through the action along with analyst Jerry Miller and sideline reporter Chris Blackshear. There are also links on TroyTrojans.com for live stats and audio.

There will be no television coverage of the game.

Troy and Oklahoma State have split the two previous meetings. Both contests went the way of the home team. Troy opened the series in 2007 with a 41-23 victory in front of an ESPN audience. The Trojans' victory was highlighted by the special teams play of kick returner Leodis McKelvin. The return trip to Stillwater didn't play to the Trojans favor, with the Cowboys taking a 55-24 win in 2008.

“Well, I wish we were playing at home,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. “We would like to be one of those schools that gets to play eight home games and pick and choose who you want to beat early. We're not in that particular position right now.”

The Trojans are looking to continue the momentum from a 30-27 victory against Bowling Green last Saturday. Blakeney and the Trojans thought the team gradually got better as the game progressed, and they are hoping the trend continues Saturday.

“I think some things we learned in that game are going to help us, especially defensively,” Blakeney said. “I don't rule out the offense either. Those guys had to perform in some of those clutch situations. I think the win, and having to strain yourself to get the win, has got to make you grow. How that compares us to Oklahoma State, I have no clue. Our coaches are studying them, and they will be a good football team.”

Oklahoma State cruised to a 65-17 win against Washington State at home last Saturday, riding the power running of back Kendall Hunter. Hunter punished the Washington State defense to the tune of 257 yards and four touchdowns. He is the first Cowboys running back to accomplish that feat since Barry Sanders last did it in 1988.

“When you can run the football 250 to 300 yards you have a chance to give some folks real problems offensively with play action passes setting up one-on-one opportunities,” Blakeney said. “When you've got a guy who can rush it that well and an offensive line that is helping produce the creases for him then you have got to devote numbers to the box. When you devote numbers to the box you single cover receivers. It's the way you would like to be able to do it.”

The Cowboys, like Troy, have had great success at home in recent years. The Cowboys have won 19 of their last 20 games at Boone Pickens Stadium, posing a tough challenge for the Trojans to overcome.

“It will be a tough opportunity,” Blakeney said. “Their home crowd at their place, and they are a pretty good football team. They may be a little bit different than they were two years ago when we played them in that they can really run the football now.”

The Trojans hope to learn a few more things about themselves Saturday in this pivotal road test and, in the long run they hope to use this week as more fuel in the “Drive for Five”.