Troy comeback falls short vs. Nevada in Parker’s debut

Nevada scored back-to-back touchdowns in the second half, then held on in the closing minutes for a 28-26 victory over Troy on Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Trojans trailed 28-17 with less than seven minutes remaining, but got Scott Taylor Renfroe’s 19-yard field goal and Goose Crowder’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Ross to pull within two with 19 seconds left. That set up a 2-point attempt for the tie.

Troy quarterback Goose Crowder was hit from behind and fumbled, but running back Damien Taylor scooped up the ball and scrambled just to get off an incomplete pass. The Trojans then failed on an onside kick, and Nevada (1-1) ran out the clock.

“You tip your hat to Nevada,” first-year Troy coach Gerad Parker said. “Coach had his guys ready to go. They came out here on the road, traveled across the country and were ready to play, certainly at the end of the first half as well as going into the second half. It was just too much for us in the third quarter to overcome, so I tip the hat.”

The loss was Troy’s first in a home non-conference since a 21-13 loss to Liberty on Sept. 11, 2021. It was also just the Trojans’ second at home since that same 2021 season.

Crowder passed for 201 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort for Troy (0-1), while Taylor ran for 103 yards and a touchdown. However, Taylor was called for targeting on the late onside kick, meaning he will sit out the first half of next week’s game at Memphis.

Brendon Lewis threw two touchdown passes and Patrick Garwo ran for two for Nevada, which unlike Troy was playing its second game of the season. The Wolf Pack lost 29-24 at home to SMU last week.

Taylor’s 25-yard touchdown run and Gerald Green’s 16-yarder gave Troy a 14-0 lead late in the first half, but Nevada got on the board on Lewis’ 17-yard touchdown pass to Jace Henry with 25 seconds left in the half. The point-after failed, however, and the Trojans took a 14-6 lead to the locker room.

The Wolf Pack scored in just three plays to begin the second half, with Savion Red running 69 yards to the Troy 5 on the first snap. Two plays later, Garwo ran in from a yard out and Lewis hit Jaden Smith for 2 points and 14-14 tie with 13:55 left in the third.

Renfroe’s 30-yard field goal put Troy up 17-14 midway through the third, but Nevada scored on Garwo’s 22-yard run to take a 21-17 lead after three. After forcing a Trojans punt, the Wolf Pack drove for Lewis’ 7-yard TD pass to Marcus Bellon and 28-17 advantage with 12:56 remaining.

Troy had first-and-goal from the Nevada 5 on its next drive, but could not punch the ball in. After Green was stopped for no gain on third down from the 1, Parker elected to have Renfroe kick a short field goal with 6:12 left rather than go for it.

Nevada then got the ball to midfield, but punted with 2:17 to play. The Trojans converted two third downs on the way to Crowder’s TD pass, but could not finish off the comeback.

“I’m proud of our guys,” Parker said. “They battled to the end and played football to the last chance to tie that game up with the two-point play. We just didn’t have enough. I hold myself responsible for everything that happened. We will look at this as we always do with a critical eye to see where we are, see where our personnel is and our schemes and put ourselves in a position to go win a game next week. That’s all we can do.

“We’ve been at this for a long time. This stings. It hurts, and losing is not acceptable here, and we know that. We’ll do everything in our power to make this football team where we want it to be.”

Lewis completed 17 of 20 passes for 158 yards for Nevada, while Red ran for 135 yards on 11 carries and Garwo added 53 yards and the two scores on nine attempts. Nevada outgained Troy 393 yards to 391, but neither team turned the ball over.

Troy’s game at Memphis next Saturday kicks off at 11 a.m. on ESPNU.