Troy Falls to Texas State

Thursday, October 3

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

1-5 , 0-2

Texas State

3-2 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Texas State

Troy

10/3/2024 10:54:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Game Notes (PDF)Gerad Parker Press Conference Players Press Conference Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2 Photo Gallery 3 Photo Gallery 4 Photo Gallery 5 Photo Gallery 6 Photo Gallery 7

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Texas State took advantage of several Troy miscues on Thursday night and converted them all into points, as the Bobcats defeated the Trojans, 38-17, in Sun Belt Conference action at The Vet to snap a 12-game losing streak to Troy.

Tucker Kilcrease put together a career-best performance at quarterback for the Trojans while filling in for starter Goose Crowder, passing for 249 and two touchdowns.

In his first career start, Kilcrease set career highs in completions (17), passing yards (249) and passing touchdowns (2). Mojo Dortch recorded his first career touchdown reception on a 7-yard strike by Kilcrease in the second quarter, while Devonte Ross added a 19-yard touchdown for his seventh score of the year in the fourth quarter.

However, a roughing the punter penalty led to a touchdown on the very next play, Troy fumbled on the 2-yard line going in for a touchdown right before the half and the Trojans fumbled at midfield in the first quarter, which led to a Bobcats touchdown eight plays later.

Reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year Jordan McCloud led the Bobcats with 252 yards and three touchdowns through the air with 72 yards and another score on the ground. The Trojan defense, however, forced three turnovers with interceptions by Jordan Stringer and LJ Green and a fumble recovery by Trent Henry.

The final interception of the night came as Texas State head coach GJ Kinne dialed up a passing play with 29 seconds remaining in the game, up by 21 points. Green picked off McCloud in the end zone, and the Trojans were the ones who took a knee to run out the clock.

Troy trailed 14-7 early in the second quarter and got a crucial defensive stop and 3^rd-and-2, but the roughing the punter penalty gave Texas State a first down, and on the very next play, McCloud hit Kole Wilson downfield for a 51-yard touchdown.

Landon Parker led Troy with a Troy-career-high 83 receiving yards. Troy, however, took six sacks and rushed for 63 yards, while Texas State picked up 215 yards on the ground, and the Trojans sacked them twice.

Up Next
Troy has a bye week before heading to Mobile, Ala., to face South Alabama in the "Battle for the Belt" on Tuesday, October 15.

Quotable – Head Coach Gerad Parker
"I'm very, very disappointed for our staff and players. In preparation for this short week, I thought our guys battled and got back after an emotional loss last week. Clearly, we just weren't ready to come out of the locker room and do what it takes to be a good football team. We challenged our staff and players the whole week to know you have to win turnover margin and make plays to beat an opponent like that.

"Unfortunately, there were some untimely penalties and ball security issues that cost us and put us down early. I'm proud of our effort in the second half, but clearly we're not getting the thing done to play winning football, and that falls directly on me. It's very difficult and something that I'll take a picture of mentally to understand what it takes to fight and put this program in a position to win."

Notable
• Troy won the coin toss for the second straight time after opening the season 0-4. The Trojans are now 10-24 the last three seasons and 5-15 the last two seasons on the coin toss; Troy elected to receive the opening kickoff.

• Spear Darrell Starling, QB Tucker Kilcrease and DT Julian Peterson made their first career starts in a Troy uniform and at the FBS level; Troy entered the week ranked second nationally (Air Force 26) with 21 players starting their first game at the FBS level this year.

• The two teams combined to run 133 plays; Troy entered the weekend averaging just 117.2 combined plays per game, the second-fewest in the country.

• Devonte Ross, who entered the game third nationally in touchdown receptions, caught his seventh of the season and 10th of his career with a 19-yard reception in the fourth quarter. His seven touchdowns this season have been from an average of 41.69 yards.

• Troy passed for 268 yards in the game; the Trojans have topped the 200-yard mark in 4-of-6 games.

• Seven different Trojans recorded a catch in the game, the second most this season (FAMU, 8).

• Troy intercepted Jordan McCloud twice in the game after the 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year entered the game with three pics on the season in four games. Jordan Stringer recorded the first one of the game on Texas State's first drive of the second quarter, his second career interception.

• Troy also forced and recovered a fumble to give the Trojans three turnovers on the night. Troy entered the week having forced three or more turnovers in 32 games since the 2016 season, the second most in the country.

• Thursday's game marked the first this season when the Trojans didn't hold an opponent to either under 60 yards rushing or 180 yards passing.

• Scott Taylor Renfroe ended Troy's final drive before the half with a 42-yard field goal, the 26th of his career. Renfroe moved into sole possession of 10th place all-time in Troy history in career field goals made.