Trojans Fall at Arkansas State in SBC Opener

Thursday, September 12

Jonesboro, Ark.

6:30 p.m.

Troy University

2-1 , 0-1

Arkansas State

2-1 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Troy

Arkansas State

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

Trojans Fall at Arkansas State in SBC Opener

9/12/2013 11:23:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: Wes Johnson

Troy Notes | Final Stats | Photo Gallery | Blakeney Postgame Video l Players Postgame Video lInfographic

JONESBORO, Ark. – Four turnovers negated 614 yards of offense as Troy fell, 41-34, to Arkansas State in both team's Sun Belt Conference opener on Thursday.

The Trojans (2-1, 0-1 Sun Belt) looked posed to tie the game in the final moments, but Corey Robinson's third-down pass was intercepted at the Arkansas State 6 yard line to ice the game for the Red Wolves.

Robinson, who was 15-of-22 for 211 yards in the first half, finished 30-for-51 for 371 yards and two touchdowns for Troy. The senior would also be picked off three times in the game.

Arkansas State (2-1, 1-0) scored the first 13 points of the game, failing to covert a two-point conversion attempt after the second score.

Troy answered with 4:38 left in the opening quarter as Jordan Chunn found the end zone on a 1-yard run to cap a six-play, 75-yard drive. The score was set up by a 54-yard pass and catch from Robinson to Eric Thomas.

The Red Wolves would use a 75-yard drive of their own to add another score and take a 20-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. It would be the final scoring opportunity of the first half for Arkansas State however as the Trojans defense tightened and forced punts on the final four drives heading into halftime.

Deon Anthony scored on the second play of the second quarter to pull Troy to within six. The momentum shifted completely when Robinson found Thomas for a 3-yard score to give the Trojans a 21-20 lead with six seconds remaining in the half.

The score, Thomas' 22nd of his career, tied Kerry Wright for the most touchdown receptions in Sun Belt Conference history. On the same play, Robinson moved into a tie for second on the Sun Belt list for TD passes, he would take sole possession of second with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Holmes in the third quarter.

Arkansas State added a pair of scores in the third quarter to take a 34-28 lead into the final period. After forcing two Red Wolves to punt, Troy converted two third downs before Anthony found Chandler Worthy for a 53-yard touchdown. Will Scott's extra point was wide, however, and the game remained tied with 12:18 to play.

Fredi Knighten would find the end zone for the Red Wolves with 3:56 left to give ASU the lead for good.

Anthony led the Trojans on the ground with 87 yards on 16 carries. Thomas finished with 125 yards on six catches while Holmes also went over 100-yards receiving with 117 on six catches.

The Trojans will travel to face Mississippi State, next Saturday, Sept. 21. The game is set for a 6:30p.m. kickoff and will be televised on Fox Sports South and can be heard on the Troy IMG Sports Network.

For more information on Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter and Instagram at @TroyAthletics and on Facebook at Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.