Football Set to Host Abilene Christian

Gameday Central | Listen Live | Watch Live | Live Stats | Gameday Changes | Troy Sports Radio Network Affiliates

Troy, Ala.- The Troy football team will host its second straight home game on Saturday when the Abilene Christian Wildcats visit Veterans Memorial Stadium with kickoff set for 6 p.m.

Troy (0-2) enters Saturday's matchup attempting to bounce back from back-to-back losses against UAB and Duke. The Trojans showed improvement between the two games, which encouraged head coach Larry Blakeney.

"The effort we had in Birmingham was not good enough to beat anybody.," Blakeney said. "You always have to get your heart ready for a fight, especially when you play this game, and I think we were ready, especially early against Duke."

The Trojans scored touchdowns on their first two drives against the Blue Devils to take a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter. Leading the offensive charge for the Trojans was quarterback Brandon Silvers. Silvers has led the Trojans to a touchdown in both opening drives this season. Silvers, who scored his first rushing touchdown against Duke, is 36-of-51 on the year with 322 passing yards.

Helping Silvers on the ground is running back Jordan Chunn. Chunn has scored a rushing touchdown in eight straight games, the third longest streak in the country. The sophomore is tied for ninth all-time in Troy's history with 16 career rushing touchdowns.

On the defensive end, Tray Hall is earning his first career start, taking over at corner back for the Trojans. Hall has three tackles on the year, including one tackle for loss, and two pass breakups.

Blakeney believes in the junior transfer, "I'm happy for Tray and I'm happy for us that we have him. It was pretty obvious he had a chance to be (a starter) when we evaluated him. After I met him and saw what kind of guy he is, that made me want to pull for him. He has done the rest with his ability."

Abilene Christian (0-2) plays in the Southland Conference, a league the Trojans were a part of in the early stages of Blakeney's stint in Troy (1996-2000). The Wildcats have lost two close games, including a season-opening 38-37 loss at Georgia State.

"They're very physical," Blakeney said of Abilene Christian. "We're going to have to attack on a broad front. We have to have a great mixture to make them defend the whole field. Offensively they have speed and big people, they're nasty. They run the ball tough. I think our kids see that they are a good football team, and they've already played Georgia State in our conference and matched them step for step until the last play of the game."

Saturday marks the second matchup between the two schools, the last being in 1975. Abilene Christian leads the series, 1-0, after defeating the Trojans 34-7.

Pregame festivities begin at 3:45 p.m. with Trojan Walk starting at Sartain Hall. The Troy Sports Radio Network pregame show hits the airwaves at 4 p.m. with the first hour of the broadcast coming live from Tailgate Terrace, which is located behind the outfield wall of Riddle-Pace Field.

Ticket booths and will call are set to open at 3 p.m. on Saturday and gates will open at 4:30 p.m. Fans without bags are encouraged to use the Express Lane located at Gate 1 (south end zone) for expedited entrance into Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Troy University Athletics

Next Event

Related Videos