Troy University Athletics
Wednesday, October 16
Troy, Ala.
7 p.m.
Troy University
vs
South Alabama
National Stage Set for “Battle for the Belt”
10/15/2019 10:34:00 AM | Football
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TROY, Ala. – The eyes of the nation will once again be on the Drive Safe Alabama "Battle for the Belt" when Troy and South Alabama square off Wednesday night at The Vet in a game nationally televised on ESPN2. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Troy Sports Radio Network will have full coverage beginning at 5 p.m. Trojan Walk is set for 5 p.m. and gates to The Vet open at 5:30 p.m.
This series, now heading into its eighth year, has been anything but normal. The visiting team has won the previous four meetings and Troy (2-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) has won just once against its in-state rival at home in three previous tries.
"South Alabama is a big game for us without a doubt," head coach Chip Lindsey said. "It's our rival and it's a chance to win the 'Battle for the Belt'. It's a good rivalry for a lot of different reasons, but it's a close proximity for both our fans and their fans. It's a good game for our state and our conference. It's a good competitive rivalry and we're excited for the game."
Troy enters the game looking to regain its swagger after coming off back-to-back setbacks to Arkansas State and Missouri. The numbers are on Troy's side with 19 wins in its last 25 games, 16 wins in its last 21 home games and 14 wins over its last 17 Sun Belt Conference games.
The big question mark entering the game is the health of starting quarterback Kaleb Barker who left the game at Missouri following a late hit in the second quarter. Barker is ninth nationally averaging 295.2 passing yards per game and enters the week with a 14/4 touchdown to interception ratio. Redshirt freshman Gunnar Watson would get the call if Barker is unavailable; he is 7-for-11 for 59 yards on the season.
The Trojans hope to get some weapons back for a defense that has started 19 different players this season through five games. Despite the freakishly large number of injuries, Troy ranks 14thnationally against the run and has held its last three opponents to a combined 19 points in the second half; an average of 6.3 points per game.
South Alabama (1-5, 0-2) has lost four straight games heading into Wednesday night, and the Jags are coming off a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Georgia Southern which saw a potential game-winning field goal blocked in the first overtime.
Quotable – Troy Head Coach Chip Lindsey
"The good thing about us is that we control our own destiny. All we can focus on is our team and giving ourselves the best chance to win and compete. All of our goals are still out there. We just need to play well and continue to improve each week. If we do that, we'll give ourselves a chance to win the game."
Notable
• Sophomore linebacker Carlton Martial ranks second nationally averaging 2.2 tackles for loss per game, he is on pace for 29 on the season which would shatter the current single-season record of 21.5.
• Junior receiver Khalil McClain has caught a touchdown pass in four straight games and has five on the year. His total is the second most by a Trojan (Eric Thomas, 2013) through the first five games of a season in Troy's DI history.
• Troy has won 75 Sun Belt Conference games since joining the league in 2004, that ranks as the most in the conference over that time period.
Know Your Foe
South Alabama put a scare into Nebraska in the season opener as the Jags were within seven in the fourth quarter before the Cornhuskers pulled away. The Jags are led offensively by Tra Minter who is averaging 79.5 yards per game on the ground. Defensively, South Alabama is paced by Jeffery Whatley's 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks on the season.
TROY, Ala. – The eyes of the nation will once again be on the Drive Safe Alabama "Battle for the Belt" when Troy and South Alabama square off Wednesday night at The Vet in a game nationally televised on ESPN2. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Troy Sports Radio Network will have full coverage beginning at 5 p.m. Trojan Walk is set for 5 p.m. and gates to The Vet open at 5:30 p.m.
This series, now heading into its eighth year, has been anything but normal. The visiting team has won the previous four meetings and Troy (2-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) has won just once against its in-state rival at home in three previous tries.
"South Alabama is a big game for us without a doubt," head coach Chip Lindsey said. "It's our rival and it's a chance to win the 'Battle for the Belt'. It's a good rivalry for a lot of different reasons, but it's a close proximity for both our fans and their fans. It's a good game for our state and our conference. It's a good competitive rivalry and we're excited for the game."
Troy enters the game looking to regain its swagger after coming off back-to-back setbacks to Arkansas State and Missouri. The numbers are on Troy's side with 19 wins in its last 25 games, 16 wins in its last 21 home games and 14 wins over its last 17 Sun Belt Conference games.
The big question mark entering the game is the health of starting quarterback Kaleb Barker who left the game at Missouri following a late hit in the second quarter. Barker is ninth nationally averaging 295.2 passing yards per game and enters the week with a 14/4 touchdown to interception ratio. Redshirt freshman Gunnar Watson would get the call if Barker is unavailable; he is 7-for-11 for 59 yards on the season.
The Trojans hope to get some weapons back for a defense that has started 19 different players this season through five games. Despite the freakishly large number of injuries, Troy ranks 14thnationally against the run and has held its last three opponents to a combined 19 points in the second half; an average of 6.3 points per game.
South Alabama (1-5, 0-2) has lost four straight games heading into Wednesday night, and the Jags are coming off a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Georgia Southern which saw a potential game-winning field goal blocked in the first overtime.
Quotable – Troy Head Coach Chip Lindsey
"The good thing about us is that we control our own destiny. All we can focus on is our team and giving ourselves the best chance to win and compete. All of our goals are still out there. We just need to play well and continue to improve each week. If we do that, we'll give ourselves a chance to win the game."
Notable
• Sophomore linebacker Carlton Martial ranks second nationally averaging 2.2 tackles for loss per game, he is on pace for 29 on the season which would shatter the current single-season record of 21.5.
• Junior receiver Khalil McClain has caught a touchdown pass in four straight games and has five on the year. His total is the second most by a Trojan (Eric Thomas, 2013) through the first five games of a season in Troy's DI history.
• Troy has won 75 Sun Belt Conference games since joining the league in 2004, that ranks as the most in the conference over that time period.
Know Your Foe
South Alabama put a scare into Nebraska in the season opener as the Jags were within seven in the fourth quarter before the Cornhuskers pulled away. The Jags are led offensively by Tra Minter who is averaging 79.5 yards per game on the ground. Defensively, South Alabama is paced by Jeffery Whatley's 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks on the season.
Players Mentioned
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