Football win streak snapped by Red Wolves

Troy football’s five-game win streak was snapped after a 23-10 loss to Arkansas State on Saturday in front of a Homecoming crowd at Veterans Memorial Stadium. 

The loss comes following significant offensive struggles for the Trojans, allowing quarterback Tucker Kilcrease to be sacked nine times. The team was held to 187 yards of offense, including just 21 rushing yards. 

Brady Fitch photo

Colton Walls covers a punt before recovering the muff against Arkansas State

“We didn't get the job done,” head coach Gerad Parker said. “I take full responsibility, especially for the first quarter, for many reasons, that we'll go back and look at when we watch the tape.” 

The first quarter began with a bad omen when running back Jordan Lovett went down with an injury following just two carries. Although starter Tae Meadows was suited up to play, he was not expected to handle a large number of snaps prior to having Lovett go down.

Lovett’s status is still unknown but is considered to have a rib injury of some kind. 

Arkansas State came out swinging in the opening quarter, slashing the Trojans defense to lead 17-0 after the first 15 minutes. Both of Jaylen Raynor’s passing touchdowns came in the opening quarter. The Red Wolves’quarterback finished the night with 247 passing yards. 

Troy managed to find some success in the second quarter, with a muffed punt being recovered by Colton Walls in Arkansas State territory. Although the drive stalled, the Trojans managed to get on the board thanks to a 43-yard field goal from Scott Taylor Renfroe. The teams entered the locker room with a 17-3 Arkansas State lead. 

Troy did not find the endzone until the first drive of the fourth quarter, where quarterback Tucker Kilcrease punched his way in for a rushing score. Arkansas State’s pair of field goals in the second half kept Troy at bay though. 

Kilcrease finished the game 19-for-34 passing with 166 yards. Though he rushed for a touchdown, his nine sacks and two interceptions put a damper on his stat line. With the rushing score, he now holds a six-game streak with at least one touchdown, including three on the ground over the last two games. 

WhileMeadows returned from injury, he struggled to find ground, accounting for 48 yards on 14 carries. Meadows was the only running back to have touches following the Jordan Lovett injury. 

Along with Colton Walls recovering the muffed punt, DJ Jackson Jr. had a fumble recovery as well. It’s the first career fumble recovery as a Trojan for the JUCO transfer. 

The Trojans now fall to 6-3 on the year, and 4-1 in Sun Belt Conference play. While it bumps Troy to third in the Sun Belt West, the path is still there for a conference championship appearance. 

With the 4-0 Southern Miss Golden Eagles facing off against Arkansas State this Saturday, Troy fans will be hoping the Golden Eagles can pull off the win. Since Troy still has Southern Miss on its schedule in the regular season finale, a win for the Charles Huff-coached team would take Arkansas State out of the running, and once again allow the Trojans to control their own destiny. 

Troy will enjoy a weekend off before it heads to Norfolk, Virginia, for a Thursday night clash with Old Dominion on Nov. 13. That game will be on ESPN, the second consecutive Troy football game to be broadcast on national television.