MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama’s defense forced three turnovers and held Troy under 100 yards until late in the fourth quarter as the Jaguars won the Battle for the Belt 25-9 on Tuesday night at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
The victory was South Alabama’s first against Troy since 2017 and its first over the Trojans in Mobile since 2014 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. It was also the Jaguars’ first win over Troy in an on-campus game.
South Alabama improved to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. Troy fell to 1-6 and 0-3.
Applewhite: ‘It Was Awesome’
“I’m just very excited for our players, for our campus, for our city,” head coach Major Applewhite said. “This is a big game, a rivalry game, that we haven’t been as competitive in, in years past. To see our staff, our players and our fans pull together, it was awesome.”
“I’m so happy for our seniors, and so proud of them, to get the Belt back this year,” Applewhite said.
Jaguars Take Control in Second Quarter
After several quiet possessions to start the game, South Alabama’s defense stopped Troy on fourth-and-2 at the Jaguars’ 49-yard line. Quarterback Gio Lopez moved the offense to the Troy 17 before a holding penalty stalled the drive, and South Alabama settled for a 36-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Jaden Voisin intercepted Troy starter Tucker Kilcrease at the Trojans’ 22-yard line. Two plays later, Lopez threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Webb for a 10-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Devonte Ross returned the ball from the goal line and was stopped at the Troy 10. Kilcrease threw a short pass to Mojo Dortch at the 6, and Dortch was driven backward and tackled by Voisin at the 1. After Kilcrease pushed ahead for 4 yards, the next snap sailed over his head and out of the back of the end zone for a safety and a 12-0 South Alabama lead midway through the quarter.
South Alabama scored again quickly after the free kick. On the fifth play of the drive, facing fourth-and-2, Lopez kept the ball, broke through the line and ran 49 yards for a touchdown and a 19-0 lead with 4:34 left in the half.
Matthew Caldwell, who replaced Kilcrease, led Troy to a 36-yard field goal with 18 seconds left before halftime, making it 19-3.
Marjan Adds Two Field Goals
South Alabama forced a turnover on downs on Troy’s first possession of the second half. Lopez then hit Javon Ivory for 57 yards to reach the red zone, and Laith Marjan kicked a 42-yard field goal.
Late in the third quarter, Lardarius Webb Jr. intercepted a deep pass at the South Alabama 6-yard line and returned it 72 yards to the Troy 22. A sack of Lopez stalled the drive, and Marjan made another 42-yard field goal for a 25-3 lead.
Troy’s touchdown came late in the fourth quarter. On a deep pass along the near sideline, an official inadvertently blew the play dead. After conferring, the officials allowed the catch and run to stand and added a roughing-the-passer penalty, moving Troy into the red zone.
South Alabama Statistics
Lopez completed 16 of 21 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. He also led South Alabama in rushing with 67 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Fluff Bothwell, wearing the honorary No. 5 jersey, ran for 53 yards on 12 carries, and Kentrel Bullock had 38 yards on 15 carries.
Jamaal Pritchett led the Jaguars with 42 receiving yards on three catches. Jeremiah Webb also caught three passes, for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Jordan Scruggs led the defense with six tackles, four solo. Dalton Hughes and Courtney McBride Jr. each recorded a sack, and Jalyn Durgan and Aakil Washington each had a half-sack. Voisin, Webb Jr. and Wesley Miller each intercepted a pass. It was Voisin’s third interception of the season and Webb Jr.’s second.
Troy Statistics
Kilcrease completed 2 of 6 passes for minus-6 yards with an interception. Caldwell was 17-of-30 for 142 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Ross caught seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown, and Peyton Higgins had four catches for 21 yards. Damien Taylor led Troy with 23 rushing yards on six carries, and Gerald Green had 14 yards on six attempts.
Jordan Stringer led the Trojans with 11 tackles, five solo, including two tackles for loss.
Defense Carries the Night
Applewhite credited his defense for carrying the team on a night when the offense struggled.
“We were sputtering so much offensively the whole night,” Applewhite said. “For the defense to do what they did, it’s a testament to how they’ve continued to improve throughout the year.”
“There’s two, maybe three, guys on that side that have played a lot of football,” he said. “But you’ve seen steadily game-after-game, guys getting better, more confident. I’m just very proud of these guys.”
Up Next
South Alabama has 11 days before hosting Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m. at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
