Doege, Troy score 34-27 victory at Western Kentucky

Jarret Doege got here off the bench to throw two landing passes within the fourth quarter in opposition to his former workforce as Troy gained 34-27 at Western Kentucky on Saturday, scoring its first highway victory of the season.

Doege, a former starter at West Virginia who was briefly on the workforce at Western Kentucky earlier than transferring to Troy in August, entered the sport after starter Gunnar Watson was injured following a tough hit late within the third quarter with the rating tied 20-20. Doege threw landing passes of 16 yards to Jabre Barber and 10 yards to Tez Johnson to present the Trojans (3-2) a 34-20 lead with 7:14 remaining.

“I knew I used to be prepared,” Doege mentioned. “I knew my teammates had religion in me and the coaches had religion in me. I had religion in myself. I put within the work. I satisfaction myself on getting ready to be the most effective participant on the sphere. I simply had a bit feeling all week that that is going to be my time. I imply, you possibly can’t write it any higher. I simply saved getting ready and ready for my alternative and took benefit.”

Western Kentucky (3-2) pulled inside a landing on Austin Reed’s 9-yard move to Daewood Davis with 4:20 left, however received no nearer. The Hilltoppers compelled a punt and reached the Troy 32 within the remaining 90 seconds, however Richard Jibunor sacked Reed and compelled a fumble.

Troy’s Antonio Showers fell on the ball on the 37 with 1:01 remaining and the Trojans killed the clock for the victory. The Trojans sacked Reed 5 occasions within the sport, and got here up with two turnovers.

Doege completed 7-for-8 for 71 yards and two touchdowns, whereas Watson handed for 202 yards earlier than being injured. Watson caught a landing move on a 7-yard throwback from Johnson, a play that gave the Trojans a 20-17 lead within the third quarter.

Troy’s DK Billingsley rushed for 122 yards, together with a 21-yard landing within the first quarter. Brooks Buce added subject targets of 35 and 33 yards.

“Within the third quarter, it appeared like we had the man go down and one other man goes down,” Troy coach Jon Sumrall mentioned. “After which one other man goes down. However our guys saved responding. It’s subsequent man up, and we saved competing, saved combating. Our backs have been in opposition to the wall. We may have executed some issues higher. I may have coached some issues higher, and our gamers may have executed some issues higher. However I’ll let you know what, I couldn’t be prouder of the combat that we’ve on this soccer workforce.”

Reed accomplished 39 of 56 passes for 406 yards and three touchdowns for Western Kentucky, throwing 13 yards to Joshua Simon within the first quarter and 34 yards to Michael Mathison within the second earlier than his late TD move to Davis. Brayden Narvison hit subject targets of 43 and 47 yards, the second tying the sport 20-20 after three quarters.

Linebacker Carlton Martial had one other large sport for Troy, totaling 12 tackles and in addition snagging an interception within the second quarter and returning it 21 yards. Martial prolonged his Solar Belt Convention profession tackles file to 487, and is now 58 away from the all-time FBS file of 545, held by former Northwestern linebacker Tim McGarigle.

Troy steps again into convention play at house subsequent week vs. Southern Miss. Kickoff is about for six p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.