The Trojans fell behind 14-0 early but stormed back to a 52-31 win over the UMASS Minuteman on Saturday.

The Trojans win gives Troy a 7-1 record (4-0 in the Sun Belt) as the Trojans close out the non-conference portion of the schedule.

“It was a good team win,” said Trojans head coach Neal Brown. “I am very glad we got the win here today. I thought our layoff hurt us, you could tell. We were rusty and didn’t come out of the gate really fast, but I think our growth and maturity is showing.”

Saturday’s game was the second consecutive game the Trojans battled back to get the win.

“We put ourselves in the hole early in the game,” said Troy quarterback Brandon Silvers. “We were down 14-0 to South (Alabama) we didn’t panic. We knew we had a long game and we bounced back and beat them pretty good.”

After falling behind 14-0 in the first three minutes of the game, the Trojans scored 21 unanswered points.

“I think that was coaching,” Brown said. “I think it comes from our assistant coaches. If you show panic, I think that goes with them. I though we were calm on the sidelines. We had spirited talk on the sideline, but after that we responded.”

Troy scored when receiver Emmanuel Thompson capped off a four play, 75-yard drive with a five-yard reception. The Trojans tied the game at 14 with 7:03 remaining in the quarter when Jordan Chunn rumbled his way in from 13 yards out. Brandon Silvers gave the Trojans their first lead of the game when he scored from three-yards out for a Trojan touchdown.

After the Minutemen cut the deficit with a 28-yard field goal, John Johnson scored on a 7-yard reception to give Troy a 28-17 lead.

The Minutemen took the opening drive of the second half 70 yards and had a 31-yard touchdown catch by Jalen Williams.

A 21-yard field goal by Ryan Kay increased Troy’s lead to 31-24. The Minuteman fumbled the ensuing kickoff giving the Trojans possession on the 16 yard line.

On the first play of the drive Silvers tossed the ball to Johnson who threw a 16-yard strike to Tevaris McCormick to give Troy a 38-24 with 1:39 left in the third.

The Trojans put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter when Silvers connected with Andre Flakes for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Thompson had the big play of the drive when he hauled in a 31-yard completion setting the Trojans up at the 12.

Troy’s defense forced a total of five sacks on Saturday and picked up an interception early in the fourth quarter, which gives them 15 on the year which is fifth most in the program’s FBS history.

The Trojans last score came when Sawyer Smith called his own number and ran one in from seven yards out to bring the score to 52-24. The Minuteman closed out their scoring on a four-yard run by Sadiq Palmer.

Silvers finished the game 26-36 for 245 yards and three touchdowns, while Chunn led the attack on the ground rushing for 93 yards on 19 carries. Thompson hauled in five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.

The Trojans will be back in action next Saturday afternoon when they host the second place Appalachian State Mountaineers beginning at 2:30 p.m.