Martial Continues to Climb Historical Leaderboards, Troy Handles Texas State 17-14

Saturday, October 15

Troy, Ala.

2:30 p.m.

Troy University

5-2 , 3-1

Texas State (Homecoming)

3-4 , 1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Texas State

Troy

Martial Continues to Climb Historical Leaderboards, Troy Handles Texas State 17-14

10/15/2022 7:12:00 PM | Football

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy linebacker Carlton Martial registered 11 tackles to move into sole possession of fifth place all-time among FBS players, and the Trojans team took down Sun Belt Conference foe Texas State, 17-14, at The Vet on Saturday afternoon.

Troy (5-2, 3-1 SBC) captured its 11^th-consecutive victory over the Bobcats (3-4, 1-2) and won for the fourth straight time this season; the Trojans' longest winning streak since the 2018 season to pull them within a game of bowl eligibility, also for the first time since 2018.

Martial ended the contest with 11 tackles and now has 505 tackles for his career. He needs just 41 tackles to set the all-time leader in FBS history. Tez Johnson led the Trojans in receiving with 94 yards and a touchdown, while Devonte Ross set a career-high with a 91-yard performance.

"Troy Trojans don't run and hide. We fight. That's what we do," head coach Jon Sumrall said. "And I think we've got a team of fighters. We're going to show up and compete every day. We're going to walk into the stadium with a fire and compete. And I think we laid it all on the line, came out on the right side of it."

Trailing 14-10 heading into the fourth quarter, the Trojans solidified the victory on a 23-yard pass from Jarret Doege to RaJae' Johnson in the front of the end zone to put the Trojans ahead, 17-14, with 11:45 remaining on the clock.

After a scoreless first quarter, Tez Johnson and starting quarterback Gunnar Watson set career highs after connecting on a 74-yard touchdown pass to score the game's first points of the day. The touchdown pass was Troy's longest touchdown since the 2018 season, a 75-yard pass from Sawyer Smith to Damien Willis against Louisiana.

Brooks Buce knocked in his 10^th field goal of the season in 11 tries late in the first half to extend Troy's lead to 10. Texas State, however, came right back on its last possession of the first half to score the Bobcats' first touchdown.

The Trojans used two different quarterbacks in a scoreless third quarter and trailed heading into the fourth quarter after a 64-yard touchdown pass gave Texas State a four-point lead, 14-10, on its opening possession of the second half.

Troy needed just four minutes to go 79 yards down the field to connect on RaJae Johnson's touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the Trojans ahead for good. Troy milked the final 5:28 off the clock to close the game out.

Notes

Doege came off the bench in the fourth quarter for the second time in three weeks to throw the game-winning touchdown pass. He did so at Western Kentucky on October 1.
Troy has held five of its last six opponents to less than 100 yards rushing after limiting Texas State to 86 yards on 28 carries. Troy's five opponents under 100 yards rushing are tied for fifth most in the program's FBS history.
Buce is now 18-20 in his career after making one field goal in the game. Prior to last season, Buce had gone 1,751 days in between field goal attempts.
Nick Woolfolk made his Troy debut with a punt in the third quarter.
Troy is now 87-54 all-time in Sun Belt Conference games.

Up Next

The Trojans will head to South Alabama to face the Jaguars in a pivotal Sun Belt West showdown for their next game. The action is scheduled to start on Thursday, October 20, at 6:30, and the game will be on NFL Network.