Sports Editor

Against South Florida on Saturday night, TSU Head Coach Larry Blakeney said his team fell victim to college football’s current offensive trend.

"It’s the new wave thing on offense," said Blakeney, referring to USF’s spread

formation and the Bulls’ athletic quarterback Marquel Blackwell. Blackwell burned the Trojans for 386 yards of total offense, which included 273 in the air and 113 on the ground, to help lead his team to a 20-10 victory over Troy State.

During Monday’s press conference, Blakeney made references to Clemson quarterback Woodrow Dantzler, who like Blackwell is a combination of running back and passer. Dantzler has led the Tigers to a 5-0 record and a top ten national ranking. Other QB’s

that fit the mold include Michael Vick at Virginia Tech, Marques Tuiasosopo at Washington and Quincy Carter at Georgia.

"I call them Bo Jackson’s in quarterback clothing," said Blakeney, joking. "When they can come out, spread the defense out and have one guy back there that can run and pass with the football, it certainly makes it hard to stop. There’s going to be a lot of gaps left uncovered by the defense.

Still, Blakeney said he felt the Trojans’ defense played well enough to win the ball game, but offensively there wasn’t much help.

"We need to be more effective throwing the football," he said. "Plus, defensvely they (USF) were better then we thought they were. They put a lot of pressure on Brock (Nutter).

Also, TSU’s leading receiver Jonathan Carter was knocked out of the game early in the first half with a mild concussion. Carter returned in the second half, but Blakeney said he feels the hit Carter suffered had an effect on the senior’s play.

"Jonathan just wasn’t himself," said Blakeney. "I respect him for trying to go out there and play, but he probably shouldn’t have been out there. Losing him in the first half hurt us on offense."

Now the attention turns to this Saturday’s opponent the Northwestern State Demons (3-1). This will be the Southland League opener for both schools, something which hasn’t changed much in the past few seasons. The Trojans have opened conference play with the Demons five of the last seven years.

"When you get in conference, things get turned up a notch," said Blakeney. "Teams play with a little more intensity."

Blakeney said, despite the loss, the Trojans haven’t entered "panic mode."

Yet.

"Of course you’d like to be undefeated," he said. "I never feel as confident after a loss as I do after a win. But it isn’t the loss itself, it’s how you handle it. You just have to correct what you did wrong and move on to the next hurdle."