Troy Hosts South Alabama in "Battle for the Belt"

Thursday, November 2

Troy, Ala.

6:30 p.m.

Troy University

South Alabama

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Photo by: Troy University Athletics

Troy Hosts South Alabama in "Battle for the Belt"

11/1/2023 9:42:00 AM | Football

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy puts a pair of five-game winning streaks on the line Thursday night when the Trojans host South Alabama in the annual "Battle for the Belt" at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m.; the game will be televised on ESPN2.

The Trojans (6-2, 3-1 SBC) have won five straight games overall following their 31-13 victory at Texas State last Saturday, and Troy has knocked off its in-state rival five straight times. Troy has won 17 of its last 19 games dating back to last season, with its 18 wins the last two years tied with Alabama for the sixth most in the country.

"It is a rivalry game, and it is a big game to a lot of people," Troy head coach Jon Sumrall said. "Rivalries matter; rivalries make college football fun and adds a lot of value to the fans. I don't care who we are playing; I don't like losing."

South Alabama (4-4, 2-2) is coming off a 33-20 loss to Louisiana last week in a game where the Jags turned the ball over five times. South Alabama possesses one of the nation's top receivers as Caullin Lacy enters the week second nationally with 957 receiving yards on the year.

The Trojans also have one of the nation's best players on offense, with Kimani Vidal just six yards shy of cracking the 1,000-yard mark for the year and 99 yards short of breaking Troy's career rushing record. The junior back ranks third in the country, averaging 124.3 yards per game.

Troy's offensive success can be attributed to its balance between the running and passing games. When an opponent takes away one facet of the offense, the other shines. Case in point, Troy's game at Texas State.

Vidal was limited to just 43 yards on 18 carries, but quarterback Gunnar Watson and receiver Jabre Barber picked up the slack. Watson was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week as he threw for three touchdowns, rushed for another and passed for a career-high 392 yards in the win, while Barber pulled down 10 receptions for 160 yards and a score.

Another key for the Trojans offensively has been taking care of the football. After 10 turnovers in the first four games of the season, Troy has just three turnovers in its last four games.

Conversely, Troy's defense is a turnover machine. Not only does Troy lead the country since 2016 with 183 turnovers gained, but the Trojans are fourth this season, forcing opponents into a turnover on 29.1 percent of their possessions. Troy has accumulated 13 turnovers in the last five games after just two in the first three contests.

Richard Jibunor enters the week second nationally among active players with 27 career sacks, 25 in his time at Troy, while Javon Solomon is fourth in the category. Among active safeties, Dell Pettus ranks fourth with 284 career tackles.

Notable
• Over the last three games, Troy has a 14-3 sack advantage over its opponents ... in the first four games, opponents outsacked Troy 14-5.

• Troy is 10-1 when Kimani Vidal rushes for 100-plus yards and 21-3 when he rushes for 50-plus
yards. The Trojans are 7-11 when Vidal rushes for fewer than 50 yards.

• Troy finished 6-0 in close games at the half last season (score differential is five points or less) ... the Trojans are 3-1 this season.

• Troy has 50 plays of 20-plus yards this season, tied for the ninth most in the country. Troy's 25 plays of 30-plus yards are tied for the 13th most; the Trojans are 11th in 40-yard plays (14) and 15th in 50-yard plays (7).

• The Trojans rank fourth nationally, with 73.9 percent of their touchdowns (17-of-23) coming from 10-plus yards out.

• Troy has been a second half offensive team; the Trojans are 107th (4.25) in first quarter scoring and 80th in first half scoring (13.38). The Trojans are 50th in second half scoring (13.75) and 47th in fourth quarter scoring (7.75).

• Troy is second in the country (Michigan), holding six opponents to 300 or fewer yards of total offense this season. The Trojans are sixth since the start of the 2022 season with 12 such games.

• Troy has held 15 of its last 17 opponents to fewer than 400 yards.

• Since the start of the 2022 season, Troy has allowed the seventh fewest points per game nationally, 17.01 and the 12th fewest yards, 313.88.

• From 2005-21, Troy was 11-73 when trailing at the half and 5-52 when scoring less than 21 points ... under Jon Sumrall, Troy is 7-3 when trailing at the half.

• Senior safety Dell Pettus has started 55 straight games, the longest active streak in the country.

• Since week three, Troy ranks 13th nationally, allowing 1,769 yards of total offense and second,
allowing 63 points.

• Troy has topped the 500-yard mark of total offense three times this season; it is tied for
the most since at least 2000 in program history through the first six games of the season.

• O'shai Fletcher has played 60 career games, the sixth most among active FBS players and 11th most across all divisions.

• Troy has forced 13 turnovers the last five games, including back-to-back games with four turnovers; Troy forced just two turnovers in the first two games.

• Troy ranks fourth nationally, forcing a turnover on 29.1 percent of opponent possessions.

• Troy has turned the ball over just three times in the last four games after turning it over 10 times in the first four games.