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Defense Dominates T-Day as Troy Wraps Spring Practice
4/23/2016 3:57:00 PM | Football
TROY, Alabama – A Dondrell Harris sack on a two-point conversion with no time on the clock sealed a 14-13 Cardinal victory as the defense dominated Troy's annual T-Day Game on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
"It was a great afternoon here in Troy and we couldn't ask for a better day weather wise," head coach Neal Brown said. "I thought we had some really great energy today. I'm proud of our fans, I thought we had a really good turnout and a great Trojan Walk coming in."
Redshirt-freshman cornerback Jawon McDowell returned an interception for a touchdown, while linebackers Justin Lucas and Demetrius Cain also came away with interceptions in the game.
The game was scoreless at the end of the first quarter, which featured four straight three-and-outs forced by the defense before Lucas' interception ended the next drive.
Cardinal drove into the red zone on the opening possession of the second quarter, but a 25-yard field goal sailed outside the uprights to keep the game deadlocked at 0-0.
McDowell accounted for the only points of the first half when he intercepted freshman Sawyer Smith and took it 45 yards for the score. Cain, who came up with a big fourth-down stop earlier in the half, intercepted freshman Ramsey Rigby late in the second quarter.
"Clearly our defense is ahead of our offense right now and a lot of that is because I think our defense is pretty good," Brown said. "Offensively, I thought (Brandon) Silvers looked better in this game, but we've got to get him some help. We've got to protect the passer and we've got to get healthy at running back; today was just the second day that (Jordan) Chunn practiced."
Josh Anderson became the first offensive player to find the end zone as he broke through the line for a 20-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter to stretch the Cardinal lead out to 14-0.
Smith atoned for his earlier interception with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Blace Brown with 3:30 to play in the third quarter.
On the final drive of the game, DeVante Williams broke a run up the middle to set up Black with a first-and-goal at the 2-yard line. Three straight stops set up a fourth down and Williams crossed the goal line as the clock hit 0:00 to pull Black within one, 14-13. On the two-point attempt, Harris raced around the edge and sacked Johnathan Ortner to seal the Cardinal victory.
T-Day marks the conclusion of the second spring camp under Brown. The Trojans return seven starters on both sides of the ball in addition to welcoming one of the top recruiting classes in program history. Brown's first full recruiting class was rated as the second best in the Sun Belt Conference by both 247Sports and Scout.
"We still have a lot of work to do," Brown said. "We need to finish up strong academically, get a much needed three weeks off and come back in the summer for eight weeks to get ready to go for fall camp."
Troy opens the 2016 season on Sept. 3 when it plays host to Austin Peay in the first of six home games in Veterans Memorial Stadium. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by contacting the Troy Ticket Office online at TroyTrojans.com, by phone at 877-878-WINS or in person in the Tine Davis Fieldhouse.
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Player Postgame Press Conference (Rachel Leggett, Ashley Baez) - Marshall
Friday, January 30
Chanda Rigby Postgame Press Conference - Coastal Carolina
Friday, January 30
Scott Cross Postgame (James Madison)
Friday, January 30