Troy State kicker Lawrence Tynes drives the ball deep in a Trojans’ game from last season. Tynes was honored on Sunday for the second week in a row as the Southland Football League’s Special Teams Player of the Week.

TSU’s Tynes, Carter enjoy homecoming

By ROBBY SMITH

Sports Writer

For seniors Lawrence Tynes and Jonathan Carter, Saturday’s game against Nicholls State was a day to think about the past and look ahead to the future.

Tynes and Carter each performed like veterans as the No. 10 ranked Troy State University Trojans breeezed to an easy 41-12 victory over the Colonels in an important Southland Football League matchup at Richard M. Scrushy Field in Troy Saturday afternoon.

With TSU’s win and Southwest Texas upsetting Northwestern (La.) State 21-10, the Trojans are currently tied with the Demons and McNeese State for first place with a 3-1 SFL mark with three weeks left to play in the regular season. The Cowboys defeated Sam Houston State 31-17 this weekend.

After missing only his eighth kick under 40 yards in his career last week against Sam Houston State, Tynes nailed two field goals from 46 and 35 yards. Tynes continues to prove he is one of the premiere place kickers in Division I-AA throughout the nation.

Tynes, who is a Milton, Fla. native, said he has learned from his miscue in the Long Star State last week against the Bearkats.

"I thought I kicked just as well this week as I did last week," Tynes said. "The try was off and I just pused it. It was the first time I missed a short field goal in quite a while. I needed to be smarter and take a delay of game."

Carter, who also had a disappointing game last week, was back to normal making big plays in the Trojans’ passing game catching three passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

Following several days of soul searching before Saturday’s destruction of the Colonels, said quarterback Brock Nutter and the receivers had lots to prove to his coaches and teammates.

"We had to focus on the line blocking and the receivers had to run the right routes," Carter said. "There was extra emphasis on the passing game this week because we struggled last week. It felt great because it was Homecoming and I wanted to show out today. It was the last time I could play on this field for Homecoming. It felt good to make my mother proud."

While Homecoming was an emotional day for Carter, Tynes said he took it in stride knowing there’s still lots of football left to play.

"It was kind of emotional, but I was glad to get a chance to play for four years. This isn’t our last home game because we hope to win the league and get the automatic bid"

As far as Southwest Texas State’s upset win over Northwest (La.) State, Tynes said the Trojans need to continue to win and get some help along the way because of the Trojans 24-17 loss on Oct. 7 to the Demons

"It gives us that extra spurt we need to take control," Tynes said. "We need to take one game at a time and play our best game every week."

Carter said if the Trojans can just share the the SFL title, they could possibly host at least one home game in the I-AA Playoffs.

"It feels good because it makes us shoot really hard right now to get another (SFL) ring and the home field in the first round," Carter said.