Trojans Fall to Hilltoppers

Saturday, November 26

Bowling Green, Ky.

11:30 a.m.

Troy University

3-8 , 2-5

Western Kentucky

7-5 , 7-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

TROY

WKU

Photo by: Edward Fieder

11/26/2011 3:03:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Troy football suffered its first ever loss to Western Kentucky 41-18 on Saturday.

By: Ben Maxwell

Box Score | Notes

Bowling Green, Ky. – The Trojans (3-8, 2-5) fell to Western Kentucky (7-5, 7-1) for the first time in school history on Saturday 41-18. The Trojans had success defensively but continued to struggle with a young offense.

Western Kentucky received the opening kickoff and was able to drive down to inside the Trojan red zone. However, the Trojan defense stood tall courtesy of a Jonathan Massaquoi forced fumble on third down bringing up a 34-yard Hilltopper field goal. The attempt would go wide right allowing the Trojan offense to start their first drive from their own 20-yard line.

Troy's first offensive drive would stall and the Trojans would be forced to punt back to the Hilltoppers. The Trojan defense stood tall again causing a WKU punt on the ensuing drive, however the punt ricocheted off of a Trojan player and the Hilltoppers would recover the ball on their own 11-yard line.

The Trojan defense would be up to the task yet again after forcing a 21-yard Western Kentucky field goal attempt, Jonathan Massaquoi would be there to get the block for Troy sending the Hilltopper offense off the field scoreless again.

The Trojan offense would stall again setting up another WKU offensive drive. On the drive Hilltopper quart back Kawaun Jakes connected on a 39-yard completion to Jack Doyle that set up a Wes Jeffries one yard touchdown run giving the Hilltoppers a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.

Despite being down a touchdown the Trojan defense would not stop. Troy's defense would go on to cause another WKU field goal attempt on the next Hilltopper offensive drive. This time it was a 37-yard field goal attempt by Jesse Roy that would fall no good.

Troy's offense started to find their rhythm again on the ensuing drive. Troy quarterback Corey Robinson connected to wide receiver Corey Johnson for a 43-yard completion putting Troy in the WKU red zone for the first time in the game. The completion set up a one yard D.J. Taylor rush for a touchdown. However after a missed extra point the Trojans would still trail 7-6 with 1:27 remaining in the first half.

Penalties cost the Trojans on the following Hilltopper drive. A personal foul against Troy gave WKU a start on the Trojan 41-yard line. A pass interference penalty in Troy's red zone would set up Kawaun Jakes nine yard quarter back rush for a touchdown giving WKU a 14-6 lead heading into halftime.

The Troy offense came out in the second half with the first possession and despite moving the ball into Hilltopper territory, gave up a turnover on downs on a fourth and one yard play.

Western Kentucky turned the turnover on downs into points with the help of a Kawaun Jakes 45 yard quarter back rush. The drive would be capped off by a one yard Bobby Rainey touchdown run, however Jesse Roy would miss the extra point attempt giving the Hilltoppers a 20-6 lead over Troy.

Troy's offense would find their mark again on the next drive when Robinson connected to Chandler Worthy for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Spencer Martin wood go on to attempt the extra point for Troy but would miss his first extra point attempt as a Trojan making the score 20-12 with the Hilltoppers still leading.

On the ensuing kickoff Hilltopper John Evans returned the kick for 52 yards giving WKU a start on the Trojan 33-yard line on their next drive. The Trojan defense would answer the call again and force a short WKU punt.

Troy's offense struggled again and after a Will Goggans punt WKU began their next offensive drive on the 50-yard line. Hilltopper running back Bobby Rainey carried his team down the field rushing for 30 yards and capping the drive off with a four yard touchdown run to build the Hilltopers lead to 27-12.

Troy's offense would not quit as Robinson hooked up to Chris Anderson on a 74-yard touchdown pass. The Trojans would attempt a two point conversion, however it failed making the score 27-18 with Troy still trailing with two minutes left in the third quarter.

WKU opened the fourth quarter with another scoring drive as Rainey recorded another one yard touchdown rush giving the Hilltoppers a 34-18 lead over the Trojans.

After a Robinson interception on the next Trojan drive the Hilltoppers would give possession right back on a Rainey fumble giving Troy possession at their own 39-yard line. However after another offensive stall the Trojans were forced to punt back to the Hilltoppers.

Western Kentucky pounded the ball on the ground 94 yards in 16 plays on their next drive to run down much of the clock as well as add another touchdown giving them a 41-18 lead with three minutes left in the game.

Troy's offense would get one more shot. Corey Robinson moved his team down the field throwing for a 61 yards on 4-of-5 passes, but would throw an interception in the end zone for a WKU touchback.

The Hilltoppers ran out the remainder of the clock giving them the 41-18 victory over the Trojans for the first time.

The Trojans now have only one game remaining as they look to conference leader Arkansas State on the road next Saturday in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 and will be televised on the CSS network.