Troy University Athletics
NOTEBOOK - Blocked Kick Spurs Comeback Attempt
9/11/2021 11:22:00 PM | Football
TROY -- The crowd of 24,714 at Veterans Memorial Stadium was all but silent, save for a small, vocal group of Liberty fans cheering as the fourth-quarter clock relentless counted down.
Troy's Dell Pettus changed that mood in an instant. Pettus blocked a field goal late in the fourth quarter that at least gave the Trojans hope for a comeback in their 21-13 loss to Liberty on Saturday night.
"The whole week we game-planned and our coaches did a great job of coming up with that block," Pettus said after the game. "We had a look from their previous film and our coach noticed their kicker has a low drive with his field goal. I came off the right edge. Their tackle blocked down so I got to really come close and tight."
Quarterback Taylor Powell said Pettus' play came at the right time.
"We needed some sort of juice," Powell said. "So to get that spark it kind of jump-started us into that drive."
Troy head coach Chip Lindsey said the play was a "testament to our kids."
"They don't give up," he said.
Lindsey credited special teams coach Dayne Brown with designing the play.
"Those things aren't just things that happen by chance," the head coach said. "They're planned. It gave us a chance to really stay in the game. Then if we'd gotten the onside kick, who knows? We've had several of those, it feels like, since I've been here. It kept us in the game and gave us a chance."
Uphill climb: Troy's offense was held in check most of the night. The Trojans managed 232 total yards and 49 offensive plays to Liberty's 65. They had the ball just 21:01, compared to 28:59 for the Flames.
Troy had eight drives, nine if you count one snap to end the first half.
"Credit to (Liberty) Coach (Hugh) Freeze and how they game-planned us," Powell said. "They kept us on the sideline all night. For the majority of the game it was hard to get in a rhythm."
Hats off: It was easy to see Troy defensive coaches harped about pursuit when Liberty quarterback Malik Willis got out of the pocket. Defensive linemen and linebackers kept trying to run down the elusive Willis once he crossed the line of scrimmage. One result early in the game was a collision between the quarterback and bandit Richard Jibunor in an edge rusher role. Jibunor chased Willis and caught him from behind as he cut back. The impressive collision knocked the helmets off both players.
Armed Forces Appreciation: On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, Troy honored the military with its annual Armed Forces Appreciation Game. Before the game, a group of Troy enlistees was sworn into the Air Force on the field in a pregame ceremony. Former Troy women's basketball player Kayla Robinson was among those taking the oath.
Troy sophomore wide receiver Kyran Griffin-Isom, who spent seven years in the Marines after high school, carried the Marine flag as the Trojans came onto the field. Kicker Kyle Coale carried the American flag.
Pregame ceremonies included a flyover of a pair of F-16 fighter jets. At halftime, Troy held a Walk of Heroes for all present and former military service members, as well as first responders.
Between the third and fourth quarters, vocalist Shelia Jackson brought the stadium to its feet with "God Bless America."
Feed the beast: Troy fell to 6-2 when running back Kimani Vidal carries the ball at least nine times. Coming into the game in Troy wins, the 5-foot-8, 215-pound second-year freshman from Marietta, Ga., is averaging 82.2 yards and 14.7 carries. In Troy losses, he's averaging just 26.9 yards and 7.0 attempts.
Vidal finished with 38 yards on 11 carries against Liberty.
Liberty series: The Troy-Liberty football series was 2-1 coming into the game with the home team winning all three games. The Flames won 9-7 in 1992 and 22-16 in 2018. Troy won 35-13 in 1993.
What's next: Troy plays at Southern Mississippi (1-1) in Hattiesburg at 6 p.m. next Saturday. The Golden Eagles lost their season opener 31-7 at South Alabama on Sept. 4. They won their home opener Saturday against Grambling State.
It will be the first of a three-game road trip for Troy, which visits ULM at 7 p.m. in the Sun Belt opener on Sept. 24 and also visits South Carolina on Oct. 2.
Next home game: The Trojans return to Veterans Memorial Stadium on Oct. 9 for a Sun Belt Conference game against Georgia Southern. Kickoff time has not been announced. The Eagles (1-1) lost at Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
Troy's Dell Pettus changed that mood in an instant. Pettus blocked a field goal late in the fourth quarter that at least gave the Trojans hope for a comeback in their 21-13 loss to Liberty on Saturday night.
"The whole week we game-planned and our coaches did a great job of coming up with that block," Pettus said after the game. "We had a look from their previous film and our coach noticed their kicker has a low drive with his field goal. I came off the right edge. Their tackle blocked down so I got to really come close and tight."
Quarterback Taylor Powell said Pettus' play came at the right time.
"We needed some sort of juice," Powell said. "So to get that spark it kind of jump-started us into that drive."
Troy head coach Chip Lindsey said the play was a "testament to our kids."
"They don't give up," he said.
Lindsey credited special teams coach Dayne Brown with designing the play.
"Those things aren't just things that happen by chance," the head coach said. "They're planned. It gave us a chance to really stay in the game. Then if we'd gotten the onside kick, who knows? We've had several of those, it feels like, since I've been here. It kept us in the game and gave us a chance."
Uphill climb: Troy's offense was held in check most of the night. The Trojans managed 232 total yards and 49 offensive plays to Liberty's 65. They had the ball just 21:01, compared to 28:59 for the Flames.
Troy had eight drives, nine if you count one snap to end the first half.
"Credit to (Liberty) Coach (Hugh) Freeze and how they game-planned us," Powell said. "They kept us on the sideline all night. For the majority of the game it was hard to get in a rhythm."
Hats off: It was easy to see Troy defensive coaches harped about pursuit when Liberty quarterback Malik Willis got out of the pocket. Defensive linemen and linebackers kept trying to run down the elusive Willis once he crossed the line of scrimmage. One result early in the game was a collision between the quarterback and bandit Richard Jibunor in an edge rusher role. Jibunor chased Willis and caught him from behind as he cut back. The impressive collision knocked the helmets off both players.
Armed Forces Appreciation: On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, Troy honored the military with its annual Armed Forces Appreciation Game. Before the game, a group of Troy enlistees was sworn into the Air Force on the field in a pregame ceremony. Former Troy women's basketball player Kayla Robinson was among those taking the oath.
Troy sophomore wide receiver Kyran Griffin-Isom, who spent seven years in the Marines after high school, carried the Marine flag as the Trojans came onto the field. Kicker Kyle Coale carried the American flag.
Pregame ceremonies included a flyover of a pair of F-16 fighter jets. At halftime, Troy held a Walk of Heroes for all present and former military service members, as well as first responders.
Between the third and fourth quarters, vocalist Shelia Jackson brought the stadium to its feet with "God Bless America."
Feed the beast: Troy fell to 6-2 when running back Kimani Vidal carries the ball at least nine times. Coming into the game in Troy wins, the 5-foot-8, 215-pound second-year freshman from Marietta, Ga., is averaging 82.2 yards and 14.7 carries. In Troy losses, he's averaging just 26.9 yards and 7.0 attempts.
Vidal finished with 38 yards on 11 carries against Liberty.
Liberty series: The Troy-Liberty football series was 2-1 coming into the game with the home team winning all three games. The Flames won 9-7 in 1992 and 22-16 in 2018. Troy won 35-13 in 1993.
What's next: Troy plays at Southern Mississippi (1-1) in Hattiesburg at 6 p.m. next Saturday. The Golden Eagles lost their season opener 31-7 at South Alabama on Sept. 4. They won their home opener Saturday against Grambling State.
It will be the first of a three-game road trip for Troy, which visits ULM at 7 p.m. in the Sun Belt opener on Sept. 24 and also visits South Carolina on Oct. 2.
Next home game: The Trojans return to Veterans Memorial Stadium on Oct. 9 for a Sun Belt Conference game against Georgia Southern. Kickoff time has not been announced. The Eagles (1-1) lost at Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
Players Mentioned
P/K
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WR
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BAN
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S
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QB
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RB
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