Daniel Hunt
Staff Writer
A 427-yard offensive effort powered the Troy football team (7-2, 5-0 Sunbelt) to its 11th straight conference victory over Louisiana-Lafayette (4-5, 2-3 Sunbelt) 26-16 on Homecoming Saturday
After both teams traded field goals in the opening ten minutes, Sawyer Smith connected with Damion Willis on a 75-yard pass for the lone touchdown of the first quarter.
Willis ended his best quarter of football at Troy with 137 of Troy’s 185 receiving yards.
With a 10-3 lead, the Trojan defense forced and recovered a Levi Lewis fumble on the 23-yard line that set up B.J Smith’s 10th touchdown of the year.
The Trojans took a 23-3 lead into halftime after kicking two consecutive field goals, allowing just three points against a team that averages 34 points-per-game
Troy became only the third team to hold Louisiana to three points or under before halftime this season. The previous teams include then No. 16 Mississippi State and No. 1 Alabama.
The Ragin’ Cajuns answered on offense in its first possession of the second half with an eight-play, 55-yard touchdown drive.
After a Trojan field goal put the score 26-10, Louisiana found itself back in the game with a Trey Ragas 5-yard rushing touchdown.
The Cajuns would get the ball back, but Kyler Knudsen’s first career interception looked to seal the deal for the Trojans.
Costly penalties forced Troy to punt back Louisiana with under two minutes. Three consecutive sacks and an interception by Melvin Tyus in Louisiana’s final drive sealed a Troy victory.
Damion Willis finished the game with 213-yards and 10 catches, the most by yards by a Sun Belt receiver this season.
B.J. Smith’s 105-yard outing broke a Troy school record with five consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing.
The Trojans take the field against Georgia Southern next Saturday at 12:00 p.m. at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia.
