Silvers became the Troy Trojans career total touchdown leader

Troy 50, North Texas 30

• Trojans quarterback Brandon Silvers of Gulf Shores voted New Orleans Bowl MVP

Michael Hanich for GCM Sports
Posted 12/18/17

Former Gulf Shores Dolphin and the Trojans quarterback Brandon Silvers was voted MVP in the last game of his collegiate career.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get the gift of local news. All subscriptions 50% off for a limited time!

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in
Silvers became the Troy Trojans career total touchdown leader

Troy 50, North Texas 30

• Trojans quarterback Brandon Silvers of Gulf Shores voted New Orleans Bowl MVP

Posted

NEW ORLEANS, LA. — Opening day of the 2017 College Football Bowl season started off with a fantastic performance from the Gulf Coast’s most recent up-and-coming star. The Troy Trojans (11-2) defeated the North Texas Mean Green (9-5) 50-30 in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Former Gulf Shores Dolphin and the Trojans quarterback Brandon Silvers was voted MVP in the last game of his collegiate career.
The Trojans knew that the Mean Green would be able to score often, so Troy needed a big passing game from Silvers. Not only did Silvers deliver as a game-manager but, he was the high-velocity passer the Trojans needed him to be. Silvers passed for 305 yards on 24 completions (out of 31 attempts) for four touchdowns, one interception and rushed for one touchdown. Silvers had a 196.2 passing rating against the defense of North Texas that was originally ranked 65th in pass defense.
This is without the Trojans leading receiver in Deondre Douglas, who was hurt in the opening kickoff. Silvers and the Trojans quickly found a replacement in Damon Willis, who had 135 yards on 11 receptions and two touchdowns.
The Trojans wanted to match the Mean Green’s fast tempo offense with their own with quick screens, quick slants, and multiple out routes. While Josh Anderson rushed for two touchdowns to make the score 15-0, Silvers went 8-for-8 for 87 yards. Silvers finished the first half with 16 completions (out of 21 attempts) for 138 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He completed his first 11 throws against the Mean Green which ties second most straight completions in New Orleans Bowl history and tied for seventh in NCAA bowl history.
While the Trojans defense did a phenomenal job in the third quarter forcing two turnovers, Silvers and the offense also had an incredible quarter. Silvers went 4-for-5 for 113 yards and accounted for 2 passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown.

The offense finished with 435 total yards while defense held the Mean Green’s 18th ranked offense to only 295 yards and accounted for 11 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Silvers is the ninth quarterback to pass for over 300 yards in New Orleans Bowl history. Silvers also joins the ranks of two other Trojans quarterbacks in Omar Haugabook (2006) and Corey Robinson (2010) to account for four passing touchdowns in New Orleans Bowl history. Only Florida Atlantic’s Rusty Smith in 2007 threw for more.
With his five-touchdown performance in the New Orleans Bowl, Silvers became the Troy Trojans career total touchdown leader with 87, passing Corey Robinson’s 84. When asked about this accomplishment in the press conference, Silvers responded,
“Anytime you pass up Corey Robinson in anything is great. I have respect for Corey and what he did. Even passing him a little bit is a great deal for me.I've had, for four years, some great teammates around me — so credit to them, too.”
At the end of the press conference, Troy head coach Neal Brown mentioned how significant Brandon Silvers was the past three years he played for him and called him a great playmaker and great game-manager.
Silvers finishes his Trojans career with a 2017 Sun Belt Conference Championship, an 11-win season, the New Orleans Bowl MVP, and the all-time leader in total touchdowns in program history. Silvers will be a player to watch for possibly in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft process.