Troy Downs Buffalo in Fourth-Straight Bowl Win

Saturday, December 22

Mobile, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

10-3

Buffalo

10-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Buffalo

Troy

Troy Downs Buffalo in Fourth-Straight Bowl Win

12/23/2018 12:15:00 AM | Football

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

MOBILE, Ala. – Sawyer Smith threw for four scores and the Trojans defense forced four turnovers as Troy won its school record fourth-straight bowl game, 42-32, over Buffalo Saturday in the Dollar General Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Troy (10-3) broke the 10-win threshold for the third-straight season – 31 wins in all – after a dominating second-half performance that limited Buffalo (10-4) to just 8:11 of possession. Both the three straight 10-win seasons and 31 wins are school records.

Smith, who earned MVP honors, had a career game passing the ball, as the sophomore completed 31 passes on 44 attempts. Smith's favorite target was Damion Willis, who he connected with 13 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns – breaking the bowl record for receptions that he set in the New Orleans Bowl last season.

The Bulls found pay dirt on an 11-yard touchdown run just 1:48 into the ballgame, but the Trojans responded on the ensuing drive with a 60-yard score from Sawyer Smith to Tray Eafford. The two teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter, but Buffalo took a 17-14 lead into the break after a last-minute field goal – marking the first time the Trojans have ever trailed at the half in a bowl game.

After the half, Troy marched down the field to retake the lead and pulled off a sneak onside kick in what turned the momentum of the game in the Trojans' favor. Overall, Troy scored on four of their seven possessions in the second half – including the kneel down at the end of the game.

Senior Sidney Davis iced the game with a couple of fourth quarter touchdowns, one receiving and one rushing. Davis caught a 45-yard pass early in the final frame and rushed in from 20 yards out with three minutes remaining.

The Bulls only scores of the second half came on a 93-yard fumble return and a late touchdown pass to cut into the Trojan lead.

The ball-hawking Trojan defense recovered three fumbles and picked off one pass in the game – the squad has forced 14 turnovers in the last three bowl games. Cedarius Rookard led the team with eight tackles and picked off his fifth pass of the season, while Carlton Martial tallied six tackles and forced two fumbles in the game.

Notable
• Troy QB Sawyer Smith earned MVP honors in the game; Damion Willis, Cedarius Rookard and Marcus Jones brought home the offensive, defensive and special teams MVP awards, respectively.

• Troy ran 28 plays to Buffalo's zero plays in the third quarter of the game ... Troy recovered an on-side kick and Buffalo returned a fumble for a touchdown. However, Troy still trailed 24-21 at the end of the third quarter; Troy improved to 2-16 all-time under Neal Brown when trailing after three quarters of play.

• Damion Willis caught 13 passes for 101 yards; his 13 receptions are the second most in a game in Troy history ... he now has 24 catches and 236 receiving yards in Troy's last two bowl games.

• Tyler Sumpter set the Troy single-season punting average record with a 45.12 average ... the previous record was 44.54 by Will Scott in 2013.