Cardiac Trojans complete stunning comeback win

The “Cardiac Trojans” left their mark in Texas as Troy rallied from down three scores to beat Texas State in overtime 48-41 on Saturday at UFCU Stadium. 

It is the third straight game Troy has won by just one score, and the second consecutive overtime finish. It also marks three straight wins for head coach Gerad Parker, the longest win streak of his tenure. 

“The resilience and toughness of this football team is unlike anything I've seen before.” Parker said. “We all know how far behind we were, but we kept on playing.  

“We took chances. We took risks. It was an unbelievable effort by everyone, and when their best was required on defense, they got the job done to finish the game in overtime." 

Troy found itself down 21-0 within the first nine minutes of play. The first quarter ended with the Bobcats ahead 28-7. Texas State outgained the Trojans with 286 yards to just 94. 

The only score of the quarter came from quarterback Tucker Kilcrease on a 57-yard touchdown to RaRa Thomas. It was the first of five passing touchdowns for the junior quarterback. He also closed the game with 415 yards to earn Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honors, as well as the Davey O’Brien Quarterback of the Week distinction. 

Another passing score to Jackson Worley followed by an improbable 53-yard field goal from Paddy McAteer kept Troy within two scores, down 31-17 at the half. The kick ties Will Scott’s 2012 make for the longest in program history, and propelled McAteer to a Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week selection. 

Out of the locker room, the Trojans came out swinging with a 75-yard drive that concluded with a Jarris Williams rushing touchdown. Texas State would not get a chance to answer yet though, as Patty McAteer masterfully executed an onside kick for Troy to recover. 

The team kicked another field goal to make the score 31-27 Bobcats. Scott Taylor Renfroe knocked in the 47-yarder. 

Late in the fourth quarter, Texas State had built its lead back to eight with, the score sitting at 41-33. Kilcrease found a friend in DJ Epps, as he found him in the endzone for an 18-yard score. Epps also caught the game-tying two-point conversion attempt. The junior receiver had career highs in every category, with 10 receptions, 148 yards and two touchdowns. 

Texas State managed to drive down the field, but Coach Parker managed to ice the Bobcats’ kicker. As time expired, Tyler Robles 47-yard attempt would ricochet off the right upright, and the game would continue into overtime. 

With Troy beginning the period with possession, it struck quickly. Another pass to DJ Epps found paydirt to give the Men of Troy their first lead of the night. Texas State was stifled on a fourth-and-1 to secure the comeback win for the Trojans. 

 “We did all the things you have to do to take risks to get back in one, and all our guys do is keep playing,” Parker said.“Tucker Kilcrease plays like a warrior.  

“DJ Epps too, and it goes on, and on and on.” 

With the Bobcats departing to become a new addition to the PAC-12 next season, this was the last time Troy and Texas State would face off for the foreseeable future. In the Sun Belt send-off, the Trojans never led in regulation, only in overtime. 

After a 1-7 start to the Gerad Parker era at Troy, he and the team have gone 7-3, and 5-1 in Sun Belt play. The Trojans are now tied for first in the Sun Belt West division with Southern Miss, who is also 2-0 in league play.  

Troy takes its win streak and 4-2 record into the back half of the season as the Trojans face ULM in Monroe, Lousiana this Saturday. Kickoff against the Warhawks is at 2 p.m.