Taylor Boydstun
Staff Writer
The Troy University football team picked up its first conference win on Saturday, Oct. 24, defeating New Mexico State 52-7 in Aggie Memorial Stadium.
The Trojans (2-5, 1-2 Sun Belt) dominated the game from start to finish, led by sophomore quarterback Brandon Silvers, who completed 23 of 37 passes for 288 yards. Silvers found four different receivers for his five touchdown throws.
Silvers, returning from a leg injury that kept him on the sidelines of Troy’s homecoming game last week, put his team on the board at the 11:27 mark in the first quarter when he found senior wide receiver K.D. Edenfield for a score.
The air-raid offensive attack from the Trojans continued, with Silvers finding senior receivers Jarvis Bentley, Brian Holmes and Teddy Ruben for touchdowns over the course of the game. Ruben caught two touchdown passes in the game, with three passes total and 109 yards receiving, bringing his season total of TD catches to five.
The Aggies were down 35-0 before they got on the board for the only time, scoring on a touchdown reception from sophomore wide receiver Andrew Allen. Following Allen’s touchdown, Troy retaliated with 10 more points, ending the first half with a score of 45-7.
In the third quarter, it appeared as though the Trojans would go without scoring, but Allen was stripped of the football on a run by Troy sophomore linebacker Terris Lewis. The ball was recovered by junior defensive lineman Rashad Dillard, who returned the ball 33 yards for another Troy touchdown, making the score 52-7.
New Mexico’s first drive in the final quarter began with the ball on the Aggies’ 20-yard line. Allen led the Aggies down to the 35-yard line but was stopped by the Trojans’ defense. The Aggies had no choice but to try for three points, but they were let down as freshman kicker Parker Davidson’s attempt went wide left.
Despite scoring just seven points, the Aggies racked up 231 yards on the ground against Troy’s normally stalwart defensive front.
In addition to the success in the passing game, the Trojans were also productive on the ground. Senior running back Brandon Burks had another solid game, tallying 133 yards on the ground on 10 carries.
“We have been close in a couple of conference games and didn’t get it done,” head coach Neal Brown said. “So to get off to the type of start we had on Saturday night was definitely a positive and something we look forward to doing.”
The Trojans travel to Boone, North Carolina, next Saturday, Oct. 31, for a game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at 2:30 p.m. in Kidd Brewer Stadium.
