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The Troy Trojans held the first full scrimmage of fall camp under the lights at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday night and the defense took center stage.

The Troy coaching staff threw a number of different scenarios at the offenses and defenses throughout the scrimmage. The two sides put the ball down at the 25-yard line and just played a typical game at times, but the offenses also got the ball backed up inside their own 5-yard line, got the ball in the defense’s territory and ran both two minute and under one minute offenses to simulate the end of a game or half. After a frustrating practice last week for the defense in “The Vet,” the scrimmage belonged to the “D.”

“Last time we were here in a night practice, I feel like the offense (got) the best of the defense and the answer from the defense tonight was pretty apparent,” Troy Coach Gerad Parker said. “I thought the defense had a great night. They gave in to some explosive plays but did what great defenses do, which is play really well in the red-zone, keep the offense out of the end zone, force field goals and force some turnovers.”

A number of players played with different units throughout the scrimmage as the coaching staff starts to build the depth chart. Also, some key veteran returners were held out of practice for precautionary reasons. Those players included the likes of Luis Medina, Eli Russ and Daniel King.

“I would say there were some guys that were just not ready enough to do it in this setting and you never want to put someone out there that’s not ready yet,” Parker said. “So, there are a couple of guys that have enough bangs from camp to not put them out there and put them in a position to play tackle football when they don’t need to.”

Quarterback Goose Crowder opened the scrimmage with a 64-yard pass to Devonte Ross. In what became a theme for the night, however, the Troy defense forced a field goal. Troy native Scott Taylor Renfroe, who had a busy night, converted a 24-yard field goal.

After a three-and-out from the offense led by Tucker Kilcrease, Gardner-Webb transfer quarterback Matt Caldwell also led his offense to a three-and-out. On that drive, Troy native KC Bradford earned a pass breakup on a deep ball and Eric Shaw sacked Caldwell on third down.

Crowder got the offense moving again with a 15-yard pass to Ethan Conner and a 20-yard pass to Ross, but again the defense stood tall to force a field goal. Nick Troemel converted a 43-yard field goal.

Backed up inside his own 5-yard line, Caldwell rolled to the left and found Mojo Dortch for a 30-yard completion, but the defense forced a punt after that. Next, Crowder’s third-down pass was batted down by Ian Connerly-Goodly to force another punt.

Despite Ross taking a handoff 23 yards inside the defense’s red-zone, the Troy defense again forced a field goal with Renfroe converting a 20-yarder.

Jah-Mal Williams tipped – and nearly intercepted – a Kilcrease pass on third down. Troemel’s 47-yard field goal was no good. On the next drive, Renfroe converted a 51-yard field goal.

Crowder made a big play on fourth down during two-minute offense when he found a leaping Conner for 28 yards inside the 10-yard line. Even after a pass interference in the end zone gave the offense the ball inside the 5-yard line, the defense forced a turnover on downs with a goal line stand.

In a kicking portion of the scrimmage, Renfroe booted all three of his attempts, converting 33, 37 and 42-yard field goals. Troemel converted 2-of-3 attempts.

Kilcrease found Dortch for 33 yards inside the defense’s 5-yard line, but on the next play Trent Henry made a spectacular one-handed interception in the end zone to snuff out yet another scoring opportunity.

Crowder converted another pair of fourth downs – to Conner and DJ Epps – and again drove the offense inside the 5-yard line. This time, though, LJ Green intercepted a Crowder pass in the end zone to snuff out the drive.

Crowder finally got the offense in the end zone with a 20-yard touchdown pass late in the scrimmage – with less than 20 seconds remaining in a one-minute drill – as Epps caught the score. Renfroe’s only miss of the night came on a 52-yard attempt to end the scrimmage.

Troy linebacker TJ Thompson made a number of big hits during the scrimmage, while Shaw recorded two sacks and both Henry and Green grabbed interceptions.

“I just loved the way our defense ran to the ball and I felt like we tackled really well,” Parker said. “I think overall that’s really what stuck out to me (about the scrimmage).”

The defensive line also controlled the line of scrimmage throughout.

“I think we’re taking the necessary steps to play up to the standards that Troy is expected to play at on defense and on the defensive line,” said Parker. “Even with some guys we still have to get back healthy that will be out there, there is certainly some promise with the way we played on the line.”

Renfroe converted 6-of-7 field goal attempts, including a 51 and 42-yarder.

“I love our operation right now,” Parker said of special teams. “The guys have been very consistent. Tonight, and all camp, Scott Taylor has done a great job.”

Parker felt there was some good and bad at quarterback during the scrimmage.

“I thought Goose managed a lot of things well tonight,” he continued. “There’s still just one or two couple of plays that matter the most with efficiency and decision making. Caldwell and (Kilcrease) had their moments of good decision-making and struggled at times, as well, for a lot of reasons. I think it was some them and also the process of protection plays into it. I thought across the board it was just okay.”

Parker said he still anticipates naming a starting quarterback on the first day of school for students. After an off day on Friday, the Trojans return to the practice field on Saturday with four straight practices through Aug. 13.