Troy University Athletics
Tuesday, October 23
Mobile, Ala.
7 p.m.
Troy University
at
South Alabama
The “Battle for the Belt” Looms Tuesday Night in Mobile
10/22/2018 11:19:00 AM | Football
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TROY, Ala. – Troy ended last season with a ring on its finger after winning a record sixth Sun Belt title; the Trojans head to Mobile on Tuesday night looking to add another accessory to their wardrobe in the "Battle for the Belt" against South Alabama.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Ladd-Peebles Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
"This is a rivalry game, I've made the mistake in the past of making this game bigger than some of the others, but I won't repeat that," Troy head coach Neal Brown said. "We will get a team that's well prepared, they are tough and well coached just because I know who they have on that staff. We are going to have to play considerably better than we did (at Liberty) to have a chance to win the football game on Tuesday night."
In addition to the "Battle for the Belt", there is a lot on the line for Troy (5-2, 3-0 Sun Belt) on Tuesday. The Trojans carry the nation's second-longest conference winning streak into the game as they have won nine straight league games dating back to last year's meeting with South Alabama (2-5, 1-2).
The Trojans are also looking to keep pace in the uber-competitive Sun Belt East Division where Georgia Southern and Appalachian State are also both sitting 3-0 in league play. Plus, a win over the Jaguars locks up bowl eligibility for the Trojans for the third straight season.
Troy saw its seven-game road winning streak snapped its last time out as Liberty scored late to come away with a 22-16 victory.
"I feel confident in how we are going to respond. I think we are going to come out and compete," Brown said. "I really don't have a question on how we are going to respond and that's from a coaching or a playing perspective. We are about the right things, we have had adversity in the past and we responded in the right way. We are going to fight and get it back working."
B.J. Smith continues to be a workhorse for the Troy offense as he became just the sixth player in school history to top the 100-yard mark in three consecutive games after rushing for 111 yards at Liberty. He ranks 16th nationally and first in the Sun Belt with eight rushing touchdowns on the year.
Defensively, the Trojans welcome back some key pieces to the unit after linebacker Tron Folsom and defensive tackle Travis Sailo missed the game at Liberty. Troy has forced 14 turnovers this season, which ranks 23rdnationally, and the Trojans rank fourth over the past three seasons with 70 turnovers forced.
Know Your Foe
South Alabama enters the "Battle for the Belt" after dispatching of Alabama State 45-7 a week ago; the Jaguars also have a 41-31 victory over Texas State on its resume. The South Alabama coaching staff features a trio of players from Troy's 1987 NCAA Division II National Championship squad in head coach Steve Campbell and coordinators Kenny Edenfield and Greg Stewart.
Notable
• Troy has won five straight Sun Belt Conference road games, 10 of its last 11 league games overall, nine of its last 10 Sun Belt road games and 17 of its last 20 overall league games
• Troy has won the turnover battle in 23 of 45 games with Neal Brown as its head coach; the Trojans are 22-1 in such games ... the only game Troy lost was at Georgia Southern in 2016, which is also the only game Troy has lost under Brown when leading at the half
• Over the past two seasons, Troy ranks fifth nationally in negative plays forced (sack, TFL, interception or fumble last) ... the Trojans have recorded such a play on 14.80 percent of its defensive snaps in that time frame
TROY, Ala. – Troy ended last season with a ring on its finger after winning a record sixth Sun Belt title; the Trojans head to Mobile on Tuesday night looking to add another accessory to their wardrobe in the "Battle for the Belt" against South Alabama.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Ladd-Peebles Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
"This is a rivalry game, I've made the mistake in the past of making this game bigger than some of the others, but I won't repeat that," Troy head coach Neal Brown said. "We will get a team that's well prepared, they are tough and well coached just because I know who they have on that staff. We are going to have to play considerably better than we did (at Liberty) to have a chance to win the football game on Tuesday night."
In addition to the "Battle for the Belt", there is a lot on the line for Troy (5-2, 3-0 Sun Belt) on Tuesday. The Trojans carry the nation's second-longest conference winning streak into the game as they have won nine straight league games dating back to last year's meeting with South Alabama (2-5, 1-2).
The Trojans are also looking to keep pace in the uber-competitive Sun Belt East Division where Georgia Southern and Appalachian State are also both sitting 3-0 in league play. Plus, a win over the Jaguars locks up bowl eligibility for the Trojans for the third straight season.
Troy saw its seven-game road winning streak snapped its last time out as Liberty scored late to come away with a 22-16 victory.
"I feel confident in how we are going to respond. I think we are going to come out and compete," Brown said. "I really don't have a question on how we are going to respond and that's from a coaching or a playing perspective. We are about the right things, we have had adversity in the past and we responded in the right way. We are going to fight and get it back working."
B.J. Smith continues to be a workhorse for the Troy offense as he became just the sixth player in school history to top the 100-yard mark in three consecutive games after rushing for 111 yards at Liberty. He ranks 16th nationally and first in the Sun Belt with eight rushing touchdowns on the year.
Defensively, the Trojans welcome back some key pieces to the unit after linebacker Tron Folsom and defensive tackle Travis Sailo missed the game at Liberty. Troy has forced 14 turnovers this season, which ranks 23rdnationally, and the Trojans rank fourth over the past three seasons with 70 turnovers forced.
Know Your Foe
South Alabama enters the "Battle for the Belt" after dispatching of Alabama State 45-7 a week ago; the Jaguars also have a 41-31 victory over Texas State on its resume. The South Alabama coaching staff features a trio of players from Troy's 1987 NCAA Division II National Championship squad in head coach Steve Campbell and coordinators Kenny Edenfield and Greg Stewart.
Notable
• Troy has won five straight Sun Belt Conference road games, 10 of its last 11 league games overall, nine of its last 10 Sun Belt road games and 17 of its last 20 overall league games
• Troy has won the turnover battle in 23 of 45 games with Neal Brown as its head coach; the Trojans are 22-1 in such games ... the only game Troy lost was at Georgia Southern in 2016, which is also the only game Troy has lost under Brown when leading at the half
• Over the past two seasons, Troy ranks fifth nationally in negative plays forced (sack, TFL, interception or fumble last) ... the Trojans have recorded such a play on 14.80 percent of its defensive snaps in that time frame
Players Mentioned
Troy vs. Kent State (Full Highlights)
Tuesday, November 04
Troy vs. Toledo (Full Highlights)
Tuesday, November 04
Scott Cross Postgame Press Conference (Kent State)
Tuesday, November 04
Players Postgame Press Conference (Kent State)
Tuesday, November 04