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The Troy Trojans (4-8, 3-5) wrapped up the 2024 football season with a resounding 52-20 win over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-11, 0-8) at home on Saturday.

The win marked Troy’s first 50-point outburst since 2021 and saw the Trojans roll up 453 yards of offense, while holding Southern Miss to 290 yards. Troy also forced two turnovers and recorded 12 tackles-for-loss. In individual accolades, Devonte Ross became the first Trojan receiver to surpass 1,000 yards in a season since 2012 and Damien Taylor also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark rushing on the season.

Southern Miss jumped out to an 8-0 lead after scoring on a 1-yard run and converting a two-point try with 12:11 left in the opening period. Troy then reeled off 24 straight points to take control of the game.

First, Taylor scored on a 6-yard run and then Troy native Scott Taylor Renfroe converted a career-long 50-yard field goal to give the Trojans their first lead of the game 10-8 with 2:59 left in the first quarter. Matthew Caldwell scored on a 14-yard run and Taylor scored on a 56-yard run to give the Trojans a 24-6 lead with 6:04 left in the third quarter.

Southern Miss broke its scoring drought with a 75-yard touchdown pass only for Troy to answer right back with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Caldwell to Trae Swart. Southern Miss scored its final points on a 4-yard touchdown pass with 7:05 left in the game to cut Troy’s lead to 31-20.

Troy then reeled off another 21 straight points, starting with a 35-yard touchdown run from Taylor. On Southern Miss’ next drive, Ian Conerly-Goodly intercepted a pass and returned it for a 31-yard touchdown to extend the Trojan lead to 45-20. After Troy’s LJ Green intercepted another pass, Jordan Lovett scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to bring the final score to 52-20.

Caldwell completed 14-of-26 passes for 187 yards and a score, while also rushing for 30 yards and another touchdown. Taylor rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries, while Ross caught five passes for 70 yards. Landon Parker caught three passes for 40 yards.

Brendan Jackson led the Troy defense with 10 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack, while Philip Lee earned seven tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. Conerly-Goodly recorded seven tackles, one tackle-for-loss, one pass breakup and an interception return for a touchdown.

In some less positive news, Troy safety Cecil Powell was carted off the field after suffering a “non-contact, non-football related medical emergency.” Powell was transported to a local hospital and was said to be in stable condition. After the game, Troy Coach Gerad Parker said that Powell was being moved to another hospital but he was still in stable condition.

Troy finishes off the first season under head coach Gerad Parker with a 4-8 record but the Trojans also won three of their last four games of the season.