After enjoying a bye week, the Troy Trojans return to Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday to take on conference foe Georgia State for homecoming.

The Trojans, 4-1, have endured long road trips and long games to start the season. The bye week offered a chance to rest and recover.

“It was a productive bye week, especially after three long road trips in the first five games,” said Trojans head coach Neal Brown. “We practiced three times last week and really took advantage of the off time. We gave the guys off for the weekend. They needed to refresh their bodies and their minds.”

Georgia State beat Troy 31-21 last year, and the Trojans are eager for a rematch on home turf.

“We are excited to get back home,” Brown said. “They are a quality opponent and a very similar team to what they were last year: a group that struggled a little bit early, but has found their stride. I think you are going to see them kick it into high gear like they did last year in the middle of the season.”

The Panthers enter the game averaging 19 points per game and are led by quarterback Connor Manning, running back Kyler Neal and receiver Robert Davis.

“They are a spread football team,” Brown said. “Manning is improving each game that they play. They are starting to get the running game going, I think that is why they are successful on offense. They have a running back (Kyler Neal) that really runs the ball hard. I think they have, if not the best receiver in our league in Robert Davis, then one of them. He had a big game last week against Texas State. He is special. He is a guy that runs really good routes.”

Troy starting quarterback Brandon Silvers had a career game in Troy’s win over Idaho on October 1. The junior threw for a career high 373 yards and three touchdowns. This week, he faces a veteran defense.

“I counted 10 guys that started against us last year that are back,” Brown said. “Their stats are a little skewed because they played Air Force. Air Force ran the ball 70 plus times against them. They are a group that has played well. They really controlled the line of scrimmage against Wisconsin, and that is really saying something. Their front six are all 6-2 or better. They have guys that can really push.”

Buy-in from the Trojans is helping make the difference this season, and Brown hopes that will continue.

“I think anytime you are dealing with 18, 19 and 20 year olds, that is to be determined,” Brown said. “They bought in the Idaho and Southern Miss weeks, but each week is brand new. We are to be determined for this week.”

The Trojans are now in the meat of their conference schedule. Three of the next four games will be at home.

“That is a big advantage,” Brown said. “The time is now for us. We have had two home games so far and our crowds have increased both times. This is a great opportunity for our players to play in front of what we think will be a rather large crowd on Saturday. It is up to our guys to make people want to keep coming back.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.