Troy takes early lead
Sun Belt Notebook: Troy defeated Arkansas State 30-27 on Saturday in an early battle of Sun Belt Conference contenders
Originally published on
9/28/2009
by
Marcus Nelson
Troy may have surprised some by losing its opening game of the season, but after a 30-27 victory vs. Arkansas State on Saturday, the Trojans sit atop the Sun Belt Conference race.
The Trojans won the back and forth battle when Levin Brown connected with Cornelius Williams on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 7:53 remaining in the game.
“It was close and back and forth, sort of like a basketball game,” said Trojans coach Larry Blakeney. “I knew we would have to play awfully good to be able to win and were able to eek it out.”
Arkansas State had a 10- lead, but the Trojans scored 20 consecutive points to lead 20-10 at halftime.
“We had some opportunities ,” said ASU coach Steve Roberts. “I thought Troy played a tremendous game and made some plays at critical times and we made some mistakes at crirtical times.”
It won’t get easier for the Red Wolves this week as they take on Iowa following the Hawkeyes’ upset of Penn State.
“They are obviously out to a great start,” Roberts said. “They are one of the best teams we’ve played in eight years.”
Old-school beating: Louisiana-Lafayette not only had to play No. 25 Nebraska a week after the Huskers lost to Virgnina Tech, but it was also the 300th consecutice sell-out at Memorial Stadium,
Nebraska wore throwback uniforms from 1962, the year the streak began and then beat the Ragin’ Cajuns 55-0.
“We played a great football team and we did not play very well,” said ULL coach Rickey Bustle.
Looking for No. 1: FAU isn’t the only Sun Belt team still looking for its first victory this season. FIU and Western Kentucky are also winless. While the Golden Panthers face ULM this week, the Hilltoppers will have to wait until Oct. 10 for a chance for its victory of the season when they play host to FIU,
Players of the week: Troy senior quarterback Levi Brown was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week after he was 33-of-46 for 355 yards and two touchdowns in the Trojans’ 30-27 victory vs. Arkansas State. …Middle Tennessee junior Kevin Brown was named the SBC Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting two passes in the Blue Raiders’ 37-21 victory vs. North Texas. …ULM senior punter Scott Love and Troy linebacker Kanorris Davis were named SBC co-Special Teams Players of the Week after Love punted for an average of 44.8 yards vs. FAU and Davis forced a key fumble on a punt return.