Troy players and coaches aren’t looking back, they’re not thinking about what could have been.

After the Trojans let Tennessee slip away in a 55-48 shootout on Saturday, the feelings of the Sept. 15 loss to Mississippi State made their way back into the locker room. The seven-hour bus ride back to Troy Saturday night proved all the time the team needed to begin looking forward.

“Everyone got their nap in,” cornerback Bryan Willis said. “Everyone got up and was just talking after a couple hours of sleep.”

The Troy defense struggled, while the offense flourished. The Trojans 721 total offensive yards against Tennessee, where the most allowed by the Volunteers in the program’s 121-year history. It was the second-most production in Troy’s history, trailing only the 736 put on Alcorn State in 2008. Conversely, Tennessee produced 718 yards of offense, the most ever allowed by a Troy defense. The 48 points scored by the Trojans was the most ever in a loss. On and on go the numbers of the game.

The Trojans (4-5, 3-3 Sun Belt) turn their attention to an offense vastly different than any of those they have prepared for this season. Navy (6-3), with it’s triple-option attack, is seventh in the nation in rushing yards and bring a form of discipline rarely seen outside of the service academies.

Troy wide receiver Jaquon Robinson, who played a season at Air Force before transferring to Troy, has experience with the ways of the Naval Academy.

“Don’t let your eyes fool you,” he said. “Do your assignment, stay disciplined and don’t guess. What they’re waiting on is somebody on our defense to make a mistake.”

Mistakes are something the Trojans can’t afford. With the Sun Belt Conference expected to produce at least five bowl-eligible teams, Troy must likely win its last three to get to 7-5 to become a sixth possibility.

 

“You know, we have these three games coming up. We’re worried about becoming bowl eligible right now and doing well in these three games,” said defensive tackle Kyle Lucas.

 

Troy will look to get linebacker Kanorris Davis back after he didn’t make the trip to Knoxville with concussion-like symptoms. Right guard Jimmie Arnold (ankle) is a game time decision.

 

Kickoff for Troy and Navy is set for 2:30 p.m. The game will broadcast on ESPN 3.