Trojans make history in home opener blowout
Published 1:50 pm Monday, September 15, 2008
It was a historic evening at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium Saturday night in the Troy Trojans 65-0 blanking of visiting Alcorn State.
The Trojans crushed the previous school record for total offensive yards by putting up 736 yards of offense against the Braves, surpassing the 635 yards of total offense put up by the 1994 Trojans against Alabama State.
“Records are certainly meant to be broken,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. “And we are in an offense now that maybe other teams been in this offense back then the record would be so far fetched we couldn’t break it, but those things happen with change and style of play. We are always proud to be good enough to accomplish a record. The No. 1 stat and record that we are interested in is the one that has three little prongs, a W.”
Sophomore quarterback Jamie Hampton led the charge, going 26-for-37 through the air with 323 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions all in the first half.
“We came out tonight and did a good job of moving the ball,” Hampton said. “You want to go out and put on a good show for the fans and I think we did that as an offense.”
Junior running back Maurice Greer added 113 yards on nine carries and a touchdown to lead the rushing attack for Troy. His touchdown was a 60-yard scamper in the second quarter.
“I was kind of winded from the drive before, but my main focus was hold onto the ball and run hard,” Greer said. “When I delivered that blow I just said ‘Oh man it’s off to the races’ and I gave it my all the rest of the way.”
Also getting into the record business was senior defensive back Sherrod Martin. He tied the school record for interceptions in a game with three picks on Alcorn State quarterbacks.
Junior plackicker Sam Glusman also set a school record for kicking points in a single game with 17 points Saturday. He hit on field goals of 23, 48 and 41 yards and nailed eight PATs.
“I was just glad we were able to move the ball and get it down there so I could kick the field goals,” Glusman said. “I couldn’t do any of it without my o line blocking for me, so I have to give it up for them. There was no pressure because of them.”