Troy University Athletics
Thursday, October 20
Mobile, Ala.
6:30 p.m.
Troy University
at
South Alabama
"Battle for Belt" Set for Thursday on ESPNU
10/19/2022 2:03:00 PM | Football
TROY, Ala. – Troy travels to South Alabama on Thursday night for probably the most-anticipated "Battle for the Belt" in the 11-year history of the rivalry. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU from Hancock Whitney Stadium.
Troy (5-2, 3-1 Sun Belt) has won four straight games and South Alabama (5-1, 2-0) has won three straight contests, with its lone loss a 1-point setback at No. 9 UCLA. In addition to the bragging rights that come with a rivalry victory, Thursday's winner will also be in the driver's seat in the Sun Belt West's Division.
"There are a lot of things around the game," head coach Jon Sumrall said. "The 'Battle for the Belt,' a rivalry game, conference implications, we're both one win away from bowl eligibility and it's on national TV. But if you get caught up in all the stuff in the periphery that really has no effect on how you play the game, you can get distracted."
The road test will be the first for the Trojans since the calendar turned to October. Troy's last venture away from home was a success, with the Trojans snapping Western Kentucky's 18-game streak of 30-plus point games (longest in the country) in a 34-27 victory.
In fact, Troy's three road games this year have trended in the right direction. It took a miracle Hail Mary for App State to escape a Troy victory in week three, and in the season opener, Troy battled now No. 7 Ole Miss in a 28-10 ball game; the second-fewest points scored by the Rebels this season (22 vs. Kentucky).
This week's game will be different. It's the "Battle for the Belt". It's a game that Troy has won each of the last four years in a town where Troy has won five straight games – three in a row against South Alabama and two Dollar General Bowl titles. However, South Alabama ranks second in the Sun Belt in scoring (36.0) and fifth in scoring defense (21.3), and transfer quarterback Carter Bradley ranks second in the league with 282.3 yards per game to go along with 13 touchdown passes and four interceptions.
For Troy, it starts with the defense. The Trojans have held five of their last six opponents under the 100-yard rushing mark allowing 85.5 yards per game and 2.57 yards per carry in those six games – those totals would rank sixth and second nationally for the season.
Offensively, Troy will be looking to hit on the big play. The Trojans' 18 passes of 30-plus yards are the third most in the country, and the squad has connected on five or more passes of 15 yards in each of their seven games.
Notable
• Opponents have scored on just three drives following a Troy score this season (4-of-26) ... the 15.4 percent is well below the national average of 31.4 percent
• Carlton Martial, a Mobile native, is just 41 tackles shy of becoming the all-time leader in NCAA FBS history. He enters Thursday's game with 505 tackles in his career, the sixth most in FBS history.
• Troy's defense has allowed just three rushing touchdowns since the third game of the season, which is the third-fewest allowed in the country.
• Tez Johnson is the nation's top-rated receiver per Pro Football Focus with an 89.4 receiver grade, second with an overall grade of 89.7. He averages 12.7 yards after the catch, which ranks third nationally among receivers with at least 30 targets. He is first averaging 4.42 yards per route run and third averaging 22.7 yards per catch.
• Troy ranks 15th nationally, holding opponents to just 4.14 points per game in the fourth quarter this season; the Trojans are 25th, allowing 9.43 second half points ... Troy allowed 14.42 points in the second half last season per game.
• Troy ranks ninth nationally with 68.4 percent of its touchdowns (13-of-19) covering 10 or more yards ... fifth among teams with at least 17 touchdowns.
• Troy's 87 Sun Belt victories are tied with Ark. State for the most in league history; A-State joined the league three years before Troy.
Troy (5-2, 3-1 Sun Belt) has won four straight games and South Alabama (5-1, 2-0) has won three straight contests, with its lone loss a 1-point setback at No. 9 UCLA. In addition to the bragging rights that come with a rivalry victory, Thursday's winner will also be in the driver's seat in the Sun Belt West's Division.
"There are a lot of things around the game," head coach Jon Sumrall said. "The 'Battle for the Belt,' a rivalry game, conference implications, we're both one win away from bowl eligibility and it's on national TV. But if you get caught up in all the stuff in the periphery that really has no effect on how you play the game, you can get distracted."
The road test will be the first for the Trojans since the calendar turned to October. Troy's last venture away from home was a success, with the Trojans snapping Western Kentucky's 18-game streak of 30-plus point games (longest in the country) in a 34-27 victory.
In fact, Troy's three road games this year have trended in the right direction. It took a miracle Hail Mary for App State to escape a Troy victory in week three, and in the season opener, Troy battled now No. 7 Ole Miss in a 28-10 ball game; the second-fewest points scored by the Rebels this season (22 vs. Kentucky).
This week's game will be different. It's the "Battle for the Belt". It's a game that Troy has won each of the last four years in a town where Troy has won five straight games – three in a row against South Alabama and two Dollar General Bowl titles. However, South Alabama ranks second in the Sun Belt in scoring (36.0) and fifth in scoring defense (21.3), and transfer quarterback Carter Bradley ranks second in the league with 282.3 yards per game to go along with 13 touchdown passes and four interceptions.
For Troy, it starts with the defense. The Trojans have held five of their last six opponents under the 100-yard rushing mark allowing 85.5 yards per game and 2.57 yards per carry in those six games – those totals would rank sixth and second nationally for the season.
Offensively, Troy will be looking to hit on the big play. The Trojans' 18 passes of 30-plus yards are the third most in the country, and the squad has connected on five or more passes of 15 yards in each of their seven games.
Notable
• Opponents have scored on just three drives following a Troy score this season (4-of-26) ... the 15.4 percent is well below the national average of 31.4 percent
• Carlton Martial, a Mobile native, is just 41 tackles shy of becoming the all-time leader in NCAA FBS history. He enters Thursday's game with 505 tackles in his career, the sixth most in FBS history.
• Troy's defense has allowed just three rushing touchdowns since the third game of the season, which is the third-fewest allowed in the country.
• Tez Johnson is the nation's top-rated receiver per Pro Football Focus with an 89.4 receiver grade, second with an overall grade of 89.7. He averages 12.7 yards after the catch, which ranks third nationally among receivers with at least 30 targets. He is first averaging 4.42 yards per route run and third averaging 22.7 yards per catch.
• Troy ranks 15th nationally, holding opponents to just 4.14 points per game in the fourth quarter this season; the Trojans are 25th, allowing 9.43 second half points ... Troy allowed 14.42 points in the second half last season per game.
• Troy ranks ninth nationally with 68.4 percent of its touchdowns (13-of-19) covering 10 or more yards ... fifth among teams with at least 17 touchdowns.
• Troy's 87 Sun Belt victories are tied with Ark. State for the most in league history; A-State joined the league three years before Troy.
Players Mentioned
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