For those who might have been trapped under something heavy over the past three weeks and have been unable to receive the latest sports news, the Troy State Trojan football team is ranked No. 1 in every Division I-AA poll across the country.

With a perfect 8-0 record, the Trojans return home Saturday after a 20-0 shutout over the Nicholls State Colonels last weekend. They will be facing the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin who could easily be considered the Trojans’ archival in the Southland Football League. The Lumberjacks are ranked as high as No. 19 in some polls and sport a 6-2 record overall.

TSU will lock horns with Stephen F. Austin Saturday with the kickoff slated for 11 a.m. There will be television coverage on Fox Sports Net, but we at The Messenger feel that it is our duty as a community to come out and support the Trojans in what could easily be seen as their most important game of the season.

While Troy State is ranked No. 1 and undefeated this year, Stephen F. Austin has beaten the Trojans for three straight years. Both teams are undefeated in the Southland Football League and have a great chance of going to the playoffs and making some noise in the post season. The game has been tabbed the "unofficial" championship game in the Southland simply because all other teams have at least two losses and the winner will seal up at least a share of the SFL title.

The bigger picture, beyond the league championship, is that if the Trojans can defeat Stephen F. Austin at home they will remain on top in the national polls for another week and have only two more games with a very good chance to complete a story book season. If the Trojans can remain undefeated and finish the year at No. 1, which is very possible at this point, they will retain the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, hosting all their games in Troy up until the finals which will be held in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Dec. 18 this year.

The Trojans have done their job as far as preparing and playing the game of football is concerned. Now, as fans and as a community, it is our job to come out and support Troy State as they go for their ninth victory of the year.

A vocal crowd can sometimes be the difference in a close contest and everything points towards this one being a nail-biter. Each of the last three games played between the two schools have been decided by seven points or less and have always had repercussions in deciding a Southland Football League Champion.

Players feed off of their fans’ energy while the opposing teams are effected negatively. We are the 12th man when all is said and done and with our help the Trojans can defend their home turf and defeat the Lumberjacks.

So come out and support your Trojans. You are guaranteed an exciting and hard-fought football game by both teams. We feel this is an important day for Troy State athletics and the community as well. The only thing the Trojans need from you is your attendance and a lot of noise!