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GAME NOTES

FINAL: Troy 38, Florida International 37

– Troy captains for the game were WR Jaquon Robinson, WR Justin Albert, OL Jerred Fleming and DE Kyle Lucas

– FIU won the toss, deferred to the second half

– Quarterback Deon Anthony’s 115 yards were the most by a Troy quarterback since Bob Godsey had 122 against UT-Martin on Oct. 28, 1997.

– Quarterback Deon Anthony’s two rushing touchdowns were the most by a Troy quarterback since Dantavious Parker had two against Middle Tennessee on Oct. 6, 2009.

– The 16-point comeback was the largest second half comeback since the Trojans overcame a 17-0 deficit at Central Florida on Nov. 11, 1995 to win 28-17.

– Kicker Will Scott’s go-ahead 42-yard field goal was the first go-ahead field goal in the 15 seconds of play since Micheal Taylor’s 34-yard field goal that gave Troy 30-27 win over Bowling Green on Sept. 4, 2010.

– FIU’s touchdown on the opening drive was the first score allowed by the Trojans on an opening drive this season. In four of the previous six games, the Trojans held their opponent to three-and-outs.

– Quarterback Dallas Tidwell took his first career snap in the first quarter, handing the ball off to Shawn Southward.

– Tidwell’s first career passing attempt was dropped over the middle.

– Running back Shawn Southward rushed for 51 yards on the day, moving him into seventh place on the Troy career rushing list with 2,405 yards.

– Running back Shawn Southward carried the ball 12 times on the day, moving him into seventh place on the Troy career carries list with 474 career carries.

– Quarterback Deon Anthony’s first-quarter 33-yard rushing touchdown was the longest touchdown run of the season for the Trojans. It was also a career-long run for Anthony.

– Kicker Jed Solomon took the kickoff after Anthony’s touchdown, marking Solomon’s first action as a Trojan.

– Wide receiver Chip Reeves second-quarter touchdown catch gave him 12 for his career, tying him for 13th on the Troy career receiving touchdowns list.

– Linebacker Dimitri Miles’ second-quarter sack was the first of his career.

– Running back Shawn Southward’s second-quarter carry pushed Troy over last year’s rushing total of 1,064 yards. The Trojans finished today’s game with 1,174 rushing yards with five games to play.

– Linebacker Brannon Bryan’s third quarter interception of FIU quarterback Jake Medlock snapped a school record 203 consecutive passes without an interception.

– Wide receiver Eric Thomas’ two third-quarter touchdown receptions gave him 14 on his career, tying him for eighth on the Troy career receiving touchdown list.

– The two touchdown receptions by wide receiver Eric Thomas was the fourth multi-touchdown game of the junior’s career.

– Wide receiver Bryan Holmes’ third quarter reception was the first of his career.

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INJURY NOTES

OL Jimmie Arnold (ankle) started the game for Troy, but was replaced in the first quarter.

DE Shermane TeArt (shoulder) did not play.

QB Corey Robinson (concussion) did not play.

CB Bryan Willis (foot) did not play.

LB Kannoris Davis started the game, but was injured in the second quarter and did not play in the second half. Not sure about the nature of his injury.

LB Dimitri Miles started the game, but was injured in the second quarter and did not play in the second half. Not sure about the nature of his injury.

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QUOTES

Deon Anthony (Jr., QB)

“The whole week we had a good week of practice and we knew exactly what they were going to do defensively. Offensively, we made plays when we had to.”

Last drive:

“We never got down on each other. The team had confidence in me and I had confidence in them. We knew we had to make positive plays.”

Rushing effort:

“Shawn Southward is a good running back and I knew they were going to key on him. The offensive line did a good job opening holes for me.”

Did you watch the kick?:

“No. I had my back turned and was just hoping he made it. I told somebody to tell me if he made it.”

First home victory:

“It’s a big momentum builder going into FAU and I know the team has confidence in me.”

Brannon Bryan (Sr., LB)

“We had a good week of practice and we knew they were a good football team coming in here. We knew that they had played som e tight games, but it feels good to get a tight win finally.”

On his third quarter interception:

“I think it put a little life into us and took a little air out of them coming right out of halftime.”

Lat game defense:

“We knew if we got the ball back to the offense that they were going to make something happen.”

How will this win help going forward?:

“It’s a huge boost. We’ve had a couple of tough losses, and to finally get the tight win will really boost us up I think.”

Will Scott (Jr., K)

“I had a good feeling they were going to ice me. They did what I thought they were going to do so I had a little extra time to think about it which I like. Kendall (Gibson) has done a good job snapping all year and I had a lot of confidence in him. Jaquon (Robinson) has the best hands on the team, I think, so I knew that I just had to get it off and give it a chance.”

“It wasn’t a pretty kick but luckily it went through.”

“It was an unbelievable feeling. I was trying to tell people that the game wasn’t over yet. I didn’t want to celebrate too early, but I can’t even describe the feeling.”

Head coach Larry Blakeney

“I’m still beyond words here. I thought we could win the game, then I went and watched them warm-up and that has to be as good of looking football team that has walked in here from the Sun belt in a ling time. They’ve got players and they played like it. They got us a bunch early and we sort of caught on and figured out some things and simplified a bit on defense and went to work and started making plays. The closer we got to them, score-wise, the better we got and I think a lot of that is the pressure that the score puts on an offensive team as far as your play calls. Our guys were inspired and played hard also.