Highlights of the Battle for The Belt at GulfSportsNet.com

Troy 38, South 17

Trojans reclaim The Belt with rivalry win over Jags

Michael Hanich, GCM Sports
Posted 10/24/18

MOBILE, Ala. -- The seventh annual Battle for the Belt between the Troy Trojans and South Alabama Jaguars met on the unorthodox date of Tuesday night in Mobile. Both the Jaguars and the Trojans were …

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Highlights of the Battle for The Belt at GulfSportsNet.com

Troy 38, South 17

Trojans reclaim The Belt with rivalry win over Jags

Posted

MOBILE, Ala. -- The seventh annual Battle for the Belt between the Troy Trojans and South Alabama Jaguars met on the unorthodox date of Tuesday night in Mobile. Both the Jaguars and the Trojans were looking to make themselves a legitimate Sun Belt conference contender as they played each other in another young, but intense rivalry game.

South Alabama and Troy came into this game focused with great game plans, but the Trojans took a commanding lead early and never looked back with a 38-17 victory. This was with Sawyer Smith’s second start as the Trojans starting quarterback after the ACL tear of Kaleb Barker against Georgia State.

Troy had an explosive offensive night that consisted of long duration drives and long explosive plays. In the 1st quarter, the Trojans accounted for 226 total offensive yards and 16 points against this Jaguars defense. There were four plays where Troy had accounted for 15-yards or more including two passes of 30-yards and 44-yards from Smith to WR Damion Willis and a 56-yard run from RB B.J. Smith. In the 2nd quarter, the Trojans accounted for 339 total yards and 15 more points.

Smith passed for nine completions (16 attempts), 158 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Damion Willis consistently beat Jaguar defenders in deep single coverage. Willis had five receptions for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back B.J. Smith ran the ball 22 times for 170 yards for an average of 7.7 yards per rush and one rushing touchdown. Overall, the Trojans offense had 410 total yards and 17.3 yards per pass.

Defensively, the Trojans overpowered the Jaguars. Jaguars quarterback Evan Orth had a good performance against a Trojan defense ranked tied for 57th in the nation in points allowed per game (24.6). Orth passed for 18 completions (29 attempts) for 275 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions. The Jaguars ran the ball a total of 45 times for only 157 yards for an average for 2.4 yards.

The Trojans defense shut down the Jaguars run game with blitzes or just mistakes from South’s O-Line. The Trojans had seven tackles for loss and four sacks. Will Choloh was in the USA backfield for five total tackles, four solo tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. Bandit linebacker Hunter Reese was also in the backfield constantly and made more play disruptions. Tron Folsom had for 14 total tackles, 10 solo tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a 0.5 sack.

The Jaguars (2-6, 1-3) will travel to face the Arkansas State Red Wolves (4-3) on Nov. 3. The Jaguars are looking to make one last push to become bowl eligible with only four games left in the regular season. The Trojans (6-2, 4-0) are very much alive for a bowl and are on top of the Sun Belt East division. Troy will host the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns (3-4) on Nov. 3.

To see video highlights of the Battle for The Belt: Visit GulfSportsNet.com