by Hunter Dawkins, Owner/Publisher – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
TROY (GG) — Southern Miss showed the kind of explosive offense that can keep it competitive in the Sun Belt, but Troy’s dominant running attack and efficient red-zone execution carried the Trojans to a 55-34 victory Tuesday, October 7 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in both team’s league opener.
The Golden Eagles (1-4 overall, 0-1 Sun Belt) fell behind 17-0 in the first quarter and trailed 31-7 at halftime, yet they responded with 20 points in the third quarter. Mario Sanders threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to AJ Little on the second play of the second half, then caught a 27-yard scoring pass from Landry Lyddy later in the quarter. Robert Briggs added a 44-yard touchdown run to pull Southern Miss within 41-27 with 1:03 left in the period.
But Troy answered every threat.
After Little’s long touchdown made it an 18-point game, Troy quarterback Goose Crowder hit Jordan Lovett for a 46-yard touchdown pass. Following Briggs’ run, the Trojans drove 74 yards in the fourth quarter, capped by Jaheim Merriweather’s 1-yard touchdown run, to restore a three-score lead.
Southern Miss again cut the deficit to 48-34 when Jamarice Wilder finished a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:38 remaining. Troy sealed it on its ensuing possession as Gavin Griffin scored on a 12-yard run.
Lyddy completed 24 of 37 passes for 316 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in his second-straight start. His passing total set a career-best for Lyddy, while it also marked his first 300-yard throwing game.
Sanders was a versatile bright spot, catching eight passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing the touchdown pass to Little. Kaden Saunders had seven catches for 138 yards, and Little’s lone reception went for the 75-yard score. It marked the first time a pair of Golden Eagle receivers had 100-yard receiving games since playing at Troy in 2019.
Southern Miss finished with 391 passing yards and 30 first downs, but turnovers stalled key opportunities. Lyddy’s second-quarter interception preceded a Troy touchdown before halftime, and his fourth-quarter fumble at the Troy 26 ended a drive that had reached scoring range.
The Golden Eagles also could not slow Troy’s ground game. The Trojans rushed for 437 yards on 59 attempts, averaging 7.4 yards per carry, and controlled possession for 39:22. Crowder ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns while completing 18 of 21 passes for 225 yards and two scores. Lovett added 142 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Blake Anderson’s squad returns home to face Arkansas State, Saturday, Oct. 17, in a 6 p.m., game at Renasant Stadium in Hattiesburg.
(Photos by Aimee Cronan/The Gazebo Gazette via Associated Press)
