Rested Troy Heads to Georgia Southern to Open Final SBC Road Swing

TROY, Ala. – Coming off its second bye week of the season and a victory over Coastal Carolina, Troy travels to Georgia Southern this weekend for the first of two straight on the road in Sun Belt Conference play against the respective leaders of the two SBC divisions.

The Trojans (2-7, 1-4 SBC) dominated the Chanticleers two weeks ago in The Vet, rushing for 342 yards while limiting the Chants to just 313 yards of total offense. Damien Taylor and Gerald Green each topped the 100-yard mark threshold on the ground, while Green added an 83-yard touchdown reception.

There is plenty on the line for both squads on Saturday in Paulson Stadium for the 3 p.m. (CT) kickoff on ESPN+, as Troy looks to become the first school in Sun Belt Conference history to reach the 100-win mark in league play while the Eagles (6-3, 4-1) are looking to get a step closer to clinching their first-ever berth in the SBC Championship Game.

Troy has found its stride the last six quarters, scoring 66 points and totaling 842 yards of total offense. The offensive line hasn't allowed a sack in the past two games; this is the first time the same unit has started consecutive games all season.

Defensively, Troy has also stepped up, allowing just 526 yards over the last six quarters (350.6 per game) and 35 points, with 14 of those points coming against Coastal Carolina on two drives totaling 33 yards due to turnovers.

Brendan Jackson ranks 11^th nationally in tackles for loss thanks in part to his 7.5 the last three games; he has at least one TFL in all but one game this season. Damaje Yancey has locked down the outside as well, recording five pass break ups the last two weeks. He and LJ Green, Troy's other starting corner, are tied for fifth in the Sun Belt with six PBUs a piece.

For the Eagles, the story has been the same most of the year between their wins and losses. In Georgia Southern's six wins, it has held its opponent to 23 points or fewer in five of those games (allowed 30 to South Alabama), while in its three losses, the Eagles' opponents are averaging 51.7 points.

The Eagles have completely flipped the script from the last time the two schools met. Head coach Clay Helton has scrapped the traditional triple-option attack that Georgia Southern deployed for decades, and now the Eagles rank 12^th in the Sun Belt in rushing and third in the league in passing.

Defensively, it's been a struggle for the Eagles, ranking 13^th in total defense, eighth in rushing defense, 14^th in passing defense and ninth in scoring defense.

Notable

• Troy has started six different offensive line units in nine games this season, tied for the third most in the country.

• Troy's games in 2024 have averaged just 125.0 combined plays, the 12th fewest in the country (Kentucky, 119.7). Texas Tech leads the country with 148.2 combined plays. Troy and A-State combined to run 153 plays, a season high for the Trojans.

• Troy had 372 yards of offense in the first half (222 yards on the ground) against Coastal; that total would have been more than five of Troy's full games this season.

• Combined with the second half at Arkansas State and the first half against Coastal, Troy's offense scored 56 points over a four-quarter stretch ... the Trojans had scored 136 points in the previous 30 quarters.

• Paddy McAteer, who didn't kick an American football until April, ranks as the No. 17 KOS in the country by PFF and 11th, averaging 69.8 yards per attempt.

• Big plays have been key to Troy's success offensively; the Trojans have scored on just 6.8 percent of its drives (3-of-48) without a big play (any pass of 15+ yards or a rush of 12+ yards). Troy has scored on 65.8 percent of drives with a big play (25-of-38).

• Devonte Ross (14) and Damien Taylor (9) are responsible for 57.4 percent of Troy's plays of 20-plus yards this season.

• Troy is one the only team in the country to score on every red zone opportunity (24-of-24).

• Three Trojans have Statesboro, Ga., connections ... LB Brendan Jackson and RB Jordan Lovett (Statesboro natives) & Gerald Green (began career at Georgia Southern).

• Three different quarterbacks have started multiple games this season ... Goose Crowder (4), Matthew Caldwell (3) and Tucker Kilcrease (2).

• Four drives this season in which Troy has not allowed a big play (12-plus yard run, 15-plus yard pass) that has resulted in points (4-for-44); conversely, Troy has allowed points on 40-of-57 drives when allowing a big play.

• Six combined 100-yard rushing games this season between Gerald Green & Damien Taylor.

• Troy's 99-yard touchdown drive against Coastal Carolina was its longest in the program's FBS history; all seven plays on the drive were rushes.

Rested Troy Heads to Georgia Southern to Open Final SBC Road Swing

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Players Mentioned

Matthew Caldwell

Goose Crowder

Gerald Green

LJ Green

Brendan Jackson

Tucker Kilcrease

Jordan Lovett

Paddy McAteer

Devonte Ross

Damien Taylor

Damaje Yancey

Troy University Athletics