Trojans Rally Late, Down UAB

Saturday, October 1

Troy, Ala.

6:00 p.m.

Troy University

2-2

UAB

0-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UAB

TROY

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

10/1/2011 11:05:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: Matt Mays

Box Score | Troy Notes | Photo Gallery | QUOTES

TROY, Ala. – The Troy University football team scored 10 points in the final 5:18 of the game and overcame three second-half turnovers as they downed UAB, 24-23 at Larry Blakeney Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.

The outcome was eerily similar to the one between the two teams in Birmingham last season, except this time the roles were reversed.

“Sort of, if nothing else, a poetic justice,” head coach Larry Blakeney said. “They had us, they had us and then they didn't have no more and we got out with a one point win.”

Troy seemed to shoot themselves in the foot with the three second half turnovers, but the defense stepped up and didn't allow an offensive touchdown in that half while UAB's one turnover proved to be the costliest of all.

The Blazers quarterback, Jonathan Perry, starting in place of the injured Bryan Ellis, threw an interception at his own 18 yard line with 5:00 minutes remaining. Jimmie Anderson returned his fourth career interception to the 12, setting up the Trojans for the go-ahead score.

“I saw the receiver go under and I was chasing him,” Anderson said. “The lineman started to pull and I was just watching the QB. Luckily he threw it and I was right there to make the play.”

“I told him before the drive, hey Jimmie, go make something happen,” said linebacker Brannon Bryan. “That play was unbelievable. He played hard and didn't show any pain.”

Anderson missed his first start of the season due to an elbow injury.

“Jimmie didn't practice at all,” Blakeney said. “But he was back there back-pedaling with a brace on and he played pretty good. He's not the biggest guy, but he has a knack for making plays and he had one tonight.”

On the third play of the ensuing drive, D.J. Taylor punched in his third rushing touchdown of the game to tie the score at 23-23. Michael Taylor's PAT with 4:07 remaining gave the Trojans the 24-23 lead.

Taylor kept the Trojans in the game just over a minute earlier as he knocked through a 48-yard field goal with 5:18 remaining after the defense kept the Blazers from capitalizing on the Trojans' third turnover of the half.

Stanley Arukwe, after catching a 10-yard pass from Robinson, fumbled the ball and UAB recovered, marking that third turnover. The defense did its job and forced a missed field goal by UAB and the Trojans started the drive that ended with Taylor's field goal, down by nine at 23-14 with 7:12 remaining in the contest.

The Trojans defense allowed a season-best 356 yards of total offense while the Trojans picked up 521 themselves. Troy racked up a season-high 172 yards on the ground, led by Chris Anderson's 69.

The Trojans, who entered halftime with a 14-13 lead, allowed UAB to pull ahead with 6:39 remaining in the third quarter when Long connected on a 41-yard field goal. The Blazers would go up two possessions on Troy's first turnover.

T.J. Ballou picked off a Corey Robinson pass intended for B.J. Chitty and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. The defensive score coupled with Long's PAT put UAB up 23-14.

After the Trojans had moved the ball to the UAB 25 yard line on the next drive, a fumble by Chandler Worthy on a reverse proved to be the Trojans second costly turnover of the half. The Trojan defense forced the Blazers to punt, but the offense coughed up the ball of the very next possession when Arukwe fumbled.

A 91-yard punt return by Jackie Williams sent up the Blazers first score of the game, but not without a valiant effort from the Troy defense. The return gave UAB the ball at the Trojans' one yard line where Troy stopped the Blazers on three straight plays.

However, a personal foul after the third attempt gave UAB an automatic first down, and on the second play after the penalty, Perry rushed in from one-yard out.

Troy responded on the very next drive, marching 64 yards on seven plays with the majority coming on a 21-yard catch by Jim Teknipp. Taylor capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown scamper, his first of the season.

Troy would take the lead with a 96-yard drive late in the second quarter. The long scoring march lasted 11 plays with Jaquon Robinson making key receptions of 25 and 13 yards. The acrobatic catches set up Taylor's second TD run of the game to put Troy up 14-10.

The Blazers would sandwich that drive with two field goals in the second quarter. Ty Long connected from 37 yards on both attempts to pull UAB within one at 14-13 entering halftime.

Corey Robinson finished the game, 30-for-49 with 349 yards, however, for the first time in his career, did not throw a touchdown pass. Fifteen different Trojans caught a pass on the day.

The Trojans return to the field next weekend when they travel to Lafayette, La., for a Sun Belt match-up with the Ragin' Cajuns.

Check back with TroyTrojans.com for information regarding that contest. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter @TroyAthletics or become a fan on Facebook.