Trojan football prepares for Savannah State

Megan Phillips Staff Writer   After a narrow 34-31 victory over UAB last Saturday, the first overtime win as a Division I FBS member, the Troy football team prepares a Savannah State team that can’t be underestimated.   The Trojans have gone 69-5 under head coach Larry Blakeney when scoring at least 35 points, a score that Savannah State has achieved only once in the last year.   Despite the mounting statistics in Troy’s favor, Blakeney is not taking the game loosely.   “Everybody in the world at picking football will pick Troy to win this game,” Blakeney said. “And if you’re stupid, then you will listen to everybody in the world and think you can just waltz out there and win a game.”   Earnest Wilson, head coach at Savannah State, has only been there since June 7, and in that time he has had to put his team together in that time.   “They will be much better as a team when they get here,” Blakeney said. “We need to be sure that we can deal with that.”   Blakeney isn’t the only one who isn’t taking Savannah State for granted. Senior quarterback Deon Anthony is taking a down to business mindset into the game.   “We just have to go in there and focus,” Anthony said. “Treat them like they are a big school because you can’t overlook anybody.”   Even with all this attention, Savannah State is getting from Troy, some of focus is already on the first road game of the season against Arkansas State on Sept. 12.   “The main thing we need to do is take care of ourselves, take care of Troy.  It would be a lie to say that we are not peeking ahead at Arkansas State, the conference opener because it is looming large.”   The Trojans will take on the Savannah State Tigers Saturday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.