:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51909015/602238836.0.jpeg)
“and on the first day we had everything we could stand, who could’ve asked for more? and on the second day there was nothing else left to do, oh what a day that was.”—Talking Heads --What A Day That Was
In a scenario so very similar and a game that meant just as much and maybe more on the national stage, Arkansas State used a smothering defense to topple the #25 Troy Trojans 35-3 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama. It was ASU’s 15th consecutive Sun Belt Conference win and the 18th conference road win in the last 21 tries. It was almost a year to the day that the same scenario played out in Boone, NC on national TV with ASU shocking a confident App State team.
Fake Punt Saves First Half
It was ugly early with the Red Wolves offense punting on their first 7 possessions before a 31 yard pass off of a fake punt got the Red Wolves into the red zone. The 31 yard pass from Cam Echols-Luper to Chris Humes set up a TD pass from Justice Hansen to Kendall Sanders to put ASU up 7-3 going into the locker room. Hansen finished the first half 11-22 for 96 yards but the real story was the Red Wolves D holding the potent Troy offense to 3 points and 105 total yards.
The Chris and Chris Show
The tone of the second half was set quickly as Troy QB Brandon Silvers was stripped of the ball by Chris Odom and had the fumble covered in the endzone by Chris Humes to give the Red Wolves a 14-3 lead and ASU never looked back. Chad Voytik and Johnston White added 2 more rushing touchdowns in the 3rd quarter to extend the ASU lead to 28-3.
Troy Juggernaut Stone Walled
Coming into the game the Trojans averaged nearly 500 yards and 38 points per game, both best in the Sun Belt. The Trojans would finish with 3 points, 262 total yards of offense, and didn't make their first trip into the red zone until 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
Mega Chunn vs The Voytik Wand
Troy’s Jordan Chunn came into the game averaging 108 yards per contest and gained 51 yards on 16 carries. Chad Voytik and Warren Wand combined for 151 yards on 31 carries as the Red Wolves turned to their rushing game to close out the Trojans in the fourth quarter.
Back Breaker, Soul Consumer Drive
With 14:04 left in the game, up 28-3, and the ball on their own 9, the Red Wolves offense led by Chad Voytik trotted out on the field looking to make a statement and finish off the Trojans. 16 plays later Daryl Rollins-Davis broke a 6 yard run into the endzone to make the final 35-3. The drive consumed 91 yards and nearly 11 minutes and featured 16 consecutive running plays.
Hello, I Must Be Going
Troy came into Thursday night sporting not only the school’s first national ranking but the Sun Belt conference’s first top 25 ranking. No doubt this will go as fast as it came after the 35-3 loss.