Sawedoff
10-21-2007, 02:14 AM
TROY, Ala. – The Troy Trojans turned the ball over seven times, but defeated the North Texas Mean Green 45-7 in Sun Belt Conference football action at Movie Gallery Veteran’s Stadium to celebrate head coach Larry Blakeney’s 200th game at Troy.
The seven turnovers were the most in Troy’s Division I-A history and the most since the Trojans turned the ball over six times against Mississippi State in 2002.
“Offensively we were dull and we didn’t execute,” coach Larry Blakeney said.
Despite the offensive miscues, the Trojan defense turned in their most impressive performance thus far in 2007, allowing only seven points. The Troy defense recorded nine sacks and forced two fumbles. They also recorded one interception.
“Our defense was all over it, all day,” Blakeney said. “With our offense not as sharp, our defense made plays."
Kenny Mainor paced the defense with three-and-a-half sacks, nine tackles and four-and-a-half tackles for a loss for Troy (5-2, 3-0 SBC). Sherrod Martin recorded 11 tackles, three tackles-for-a-loss and two sacks.
Chris Bradwell recorded a sack-and-a-half, while Dion Gales and Shawn Todd each added a sack.
North Texas (1-6, 1-3 SBC) entered the game averaging 425.8 yards per contest, but was held to only 205 yards of total offense, including only 26 yards rushing.
After trading interceptions on the first two possessions of the game, Troy took over at the North Texas 22-yard line and completed a double pass from quarterback Omar Haugabook to receiver Gary Banks, then back from Banks to Haugabook for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead.
The 22-yard score came on Banks’ second pass attempt of the season, his other was a touchdown pass against Oklahoma State. The reception resulted in Haugabook’s first career receiving touchdown.
Haugabook finished the day 25-of-37 for 287 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 12 times for 42 yards. Banks would snag six balls for 95 yards and the lone touchdown.
Troy forced a three-and-out on the Mean Green’s next possession and Leodis McKelvin took the ensuing punt 52 yards for a touchdown, his third of the season. The return was the seventh of his career taken back for a touchdown and it pushed Troy’s lead to 14-0.
McKelvin finished up with 162 yards on seven returns (five punts and two kickoffs). His seventh return left him one shy of the NCAA record for punt returns for a touchdown in a career.
The Trojans would force North Texas to punt once again on their next possession and Banks would cap a six-play, 63-yard drive for Troy with a 42-yard touchdown reception from Haugabook stretching the Trojan lead out to 21-0.
Troy’s final score of the first half would come at the conclusion of a three-play, 52-yard drive that lasted only 35 seconds. Haugabook would complete a 46-yard pass to freshman Jerrell Jernigan for his first touchdown of his career. The score would give the Trojans a 28-0 lead going into halftime.
McKelvin would come close to setting a NCAA record on his next touch when following a punt by North Texas, he would the return back 67 yards to the endzone. The return would be nullified following a running into the kicker penalty.
Troy’s first touchdown of the second half would come with five minutes remaining in the third quarter when Haugabook found Kenny Cattouse for an eight-yard touchdown pass to complete a six-play, 52-yard drive that propelled the Trojans to a 35-0 advantage.
Cattouse added 65 total yards, rushing for 24 and gaining 41through the air. Dujuan Harris added 36 rushing yards on six carries.
The Mean Green would finally get on the board with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter when Giovanni Vizza would connect with Micah Mosley for a 30 yard touchdown pass, cutting the Troy lead to 35-7.
Vizza completed 22 of his 37 pass attempts for 172 yards and a touchdown. He also threw one interception.
Greg Whibbs would get his first opportunity of the game with 10:14 to go in the fourth quarter. He would split the uprights on a 24-yard attempt, giving Troy a 38-7 lead.
The Trojans would get on the board again with 5:35 remaining in the game when back-up quarterback Tanner Jones dropped a 38-yard completion into a streaking Justin Bray’s hands for a touchdown to push the Trojans over the 40 point mark for the third time in 2007.
The touchdown was Jones’ first of his career and it gave Troy the winning margin of 45-7. The win marked Troy’s tenth consecutive homecoming victory. Blakeney is 14-1-1 all-time on homecoming.
The Trojans will face Arkansas State next week in Jonesboro, Ark. Troy has traveled there twice and both times has returned home with a loss. Blakeney has yet to win against Arkansas State coach Steve Roberts in seven tries.
“This is a tough league to win in,” Blakeney said. “You have to be able to win on the road. Arkansas State has been our nemesis in the league.”
Troy will travel to Jonesboro, Ark. to face Arkansas State on October 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm.
Trojans Tackle Turnovers to Top North Texas - Troy University Trojans Athletics Official Site - TroyTrojans.com (http://www.troytrojans.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17200&ATCLID=1284590)
The seven turnovers were the most in Troy’s Division I-A history and the most since the Trojans turned the ball over six times against Mississippi State in 2002.
“Offensively we were dull and we didn’t execute,” coach Larry Blakeney said.
Despite the offensive miscues, the Trojan defense turned in their most impressive performance thus far in 2007, allowing only seven points. The Troy defense recorded nine sacks and forced two fumbles. They also recorded one interception.
“Our defense was all over it, all day,” Blakeney said. “With our offense not as sharp, our defense made plays."
Kenny Mainor paced the defense with three-and-a-half sacks, nine tackles and four-and-a-half tackles for a loss for Troy (5-2, 3-0 SBC). Sherrod Martin recorded 11 tackles, three tackles-for-a-loss and two sacks.
Chris Bradwell recorded a sack-and-a-half, while Dion Gales and Shawn Todd each added a sack.
North Texas (1-6, 1-3 SBC) entered the game averaging 425.8 yards per contest, but was held to only 205 yards of total offense, including only 26 yards rushing.
After trading interceptions on the first two possessions of the game, Troy took over at the North Texas 22-yard line and completed a double pass from quarterback Omar Haugabook to receiver Gary Banks, then back from Banks to Haugabook for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead.
The 22-yard score came on Banks’ second pass attempt of the season, his other was a touchdown pass against Oklahoma State. The reception resulted in Haugabook’s first career receiving touchdown.
Haugabook finished the day 25-of-37 for 287 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 12 times for 42 yards. Banks would snag six balls for 95 yards and the lone touchdown.
Troy forced a three-and-out on the Mean Green’s next possession and Leodis McKelvin took the ensuing punt 52 yards for a touchdown, his third of the season. The return was the seventh of his career taken back for a touchdown and it pushed Troy’s lead to 14-0.
McKelvin finished up with 162 yards on seven returns (five punts and two kickoffs). His seventh return left him one shy of the NCAA record for punt returns for a touchdown in a career.
The Trojans would force North Texas to punt once again on their next possession and Banks would cap a six-play, 63-yard drive for Troy with a 42-yard touchdown reception from Haugabook stretching the Trojan lead out to 21-0.
Troy’s final score of the first half would come at the conclusion of a three-play, 52-yard drive that lasted only 35 seconds. Haugabook would complete a 46-yard pass to freshman Jerrell Jernigan for his first touchdown of his career. The score would give the Trojans a 28-0 lead going into halftime.
McKelvin would come close to setting a NCAA record on his next touch when following a punt by North Texas, he would the return back 67 yards to the endzone. The return would be nullified following a running into the kicker penalty.
Troy’s first touchdown of the second half would come with five minutes remaining in the third quarter when Haugabook found Kenny Cattouse for an eight-yard touchdown pass to complete a six-play, 52-yard drive that propelled the Trojans to a 35-0 advantage.
Cattouse added 65 total yards, rushing for 24 and gaining 41through the air. Dujuan Harris added 36 rushing yards on six carries.
The Mean Green would finally get on the board with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter when Giovanni Vizza would connect with Micah Mosley for a 30 yard touchdown pass, cutting the Troy lead to 35-7.
Vizza completed 22 of his 37 pass attempts for 172 yards and a touchdown. He also threw one interception.
Greg Whibbs would get his first opportunity of the game with 10:14 to go in the fourth quarter. He would split the uprights on a 24-yard attempt, giving Troy a 38-7 lead.
The Trojans would get on the board again with 5:35 remaining in the game when back-up quarterback Tanner Jones dropped a 38-yard completion into a streaking Justin Bray’s hands for a touchdown to push the Trojans over the 40 point mark for the third time in 2007.
The touchdown was Jones’ first of his career and it gave Troy the winning margin of 45-7. The win marked Troy’s tenth consecutive homecoming victory. Blakeney is 14-1-1 all-time on homecoming.
The Trojans will face Arkansas State next week in Jonesboro, Ark. Troy has traveled there twice and both times has returned home with a loss. Blakeney has yet to win against Arkansas State coach Steve Roberts in seven tries.
“This is a tough league to win in,” Blakeney said. “You have to be able to win on the road. Arkansas State has been our nemesis in the league.”
Troy will travel to Jonesboro, Ark. to face Arkansas State on October 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm.
Trojans Tackle Turnovers to Top North Texas - Troy University Trojans Athletics Official Site - TroyTrojans.com (http://www.troytrojans.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17200&ATCLID=1284590)