Troy Football Ready to Make Statement Against ULL

Live Stats | Troy Notes | ESPN / WatchESPN | Listen Live (Free)

TROY, Ala. – Troy head coach Larry Blakeney is aware of the challenge as well as the opportunity that lie ahead for his football team. The Trojans are coming off a tough loss to ULM at home but are looking for a statement win over the Sun Belt Conference's other Bayou State school, Louisiana-Lafayette.

The teams square off in a Thursday night, nationally televised game on ESPNU. It is the third Thursday night game of the season for Troy.

The Ragin' Cajuns (6-2) are the class of the league thus far in the 2013 season with a 3-0 SBC record and can solidify their foothold atop the conference standings with a win over Troy. The Trojans (5-4), on the other hand, are 3-2 in conference play and are looking to keep afloat in the league table. A victory would keep them in the hunt heading into the waning weeks of the season.

"It's an opportunity that we've got to take advantage of," Blakeney said. "It's a chance for us to turn things around."

Of equal importance, a win would make Troy bowl eligible. After failing to qualify the past two seasons, reaching and surpassing the six-win plateau would be a pleasant outcome.

"Anytime you go on the road, you've got to feel like you can win," Blakeney said. "I think our kids will prepare and play hard. We're going to try and coach them up to do that."

While the Trojans are 7-3 against Louisiana-Lafayette under Blakeney, the team is just 3-8 all-time at Cajun Field in a series that dates back to 1946.

The matchup will feature the conference's top two scoring offenses. The Ragin' Cajuns are averaging 37.9 points per game while Troy is second with 34.4 points per contest. It will certainly be a battle in the trenches as the league's best rushing offense grinds it out with Troy's second ranked rush defense. The Trojans are allowing just 136.3 yards on the ground per game.

"Their offense give them some pretty good opportunities with the running back," said Blakeney. "They make you stay at home, take care of your responsibility and create some chances."

Blakeney will take another crack at picking up win No. 175 while quarterback Corey Robinson needs just one yard of total offense to set the Sun Belt career record. Robinson already holds league records for passing yards, touchdowns, completions and attempts.

Troy will look to snap Louisiana-Lafayette's six-game win streak in a 6:30p.m. kickoff. The game can be heard on the IMG Radio Network.

Troy University Athletics

Troy Football Ready to Make Statement Against ULL

Next Event

Related Videos