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The Troy Trojans (2-7, 1-4) are back on the field this Saturday, fresh off a bye week, for a Sun Belt Conference matchup against the Georgia Southern Eagles (6-3, 4-1) on the road.

The Trojans have been beat up for much of the season but head coach Gerad Parker said Troy comes into the Georgia Southern game as healthy as they’ve been all year.

“We’ve had a couple of small things come up that guys needed to have addressed over the bye week,” Parker continued. “Those guys are healing up from small procedures with rest time. With three games in, and three left, we’re in a pretty good spot – minus Goose (Crowder) – and hopefully that bodes well for the Trojans down the stretch.”

Troy is coming off a 38-24 win over Coastal Carolina for the first conference win in Parker’s tenure. He believes the momentum built from that game, and the second half of the Arkansas State game the prior week, has turned things around for the Trojans.

“I think our guys are realizing there is a process to this; be a pro, be the man you want to be and prepare, prepare, prepare,” said Parker. “Improve your play and let’s see that product on the field. Build momentum and be proud of the way we finish and then let’s ride this thing into the spring and see where we’re at from there. We have begged, pleaded and pushed and our guys have reacted.

“We’ve been telling them that this thing was going to flip eventually, Troy will go where Troy goes, so why not now? The first half of that Arkansas State game was not a reflection of how they prepared. It was almost a command – and a demand – from me to stop. We’re not going to do that anymore. Whatever happened, happened and the result didn’t finish exactly the way we wanted (against Arkansas State) but the guys felt it and we remembered it and pulled from it and found our football team in a different way against Coastal. Now the challenge is that we have to keep it up.”

Both Troy running backs Damien Taylor and Gerald Green eclipsed 100 yards rushing last week. Taylor has 682 yards on the season, which ranks fourth in the conference, while receiver Devonte Ross’ 53 catches for 783 yards and nine scores is good for second in the conference. Linebacker Brendan Jackson ranks 11th in the country in tackles-for-loss.

Georgia Southern quarterback JC French has thrown for 1,988 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also rushing for 160 yards and one touchdown.

“He’s done a phenomenal job,” Parker said of French. “The great thing he does is keep plays alive with his feet but he also gets the ball out of his hand in a hurry. They do a fine job finding him completions, drive starter completions, as a way to build confidence with the wideouts and tight ends. Our secondary, at all levels, have to be prepared for this. They will test you in every level.”

Georgia Southern’s offense also boasts a familiar name for the Wiregrass in former Daleville running back Jalen White. White shattered numerous Alabama state rushing records in high school. This season, White has tallied 464 yards and eight touchdowns in 110 carries in nine games.

“He’s honestly fun to watch on film,” Parker said of White. “I love the way he runs the football. He’s a tough tackle. When you’re able to find momentum running the football it opens up every piece of your playbook and giving it to a guy like him makes things so much easier. He’s proven to be an excellent player in this league and one that’s a challenge for us to tackle this week.”

Troy and Georgia Southern play at 3 p.m. on Nov. 16 in a game that will stream on ESPN+.