Troy run game still strong
Published 6:07 pm Tuesday, October 9, 2018
The Troy running game was it again during the Trojans’ 37-20 win over Georgia State on Thursday evening.
In front of a national audience, the Trojans tallied 337 yards. Leading rusher B.J. smith eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the second time in as many weeks when he ran for 140 yards and had two touchdowns.
“The offensive line, they have been playing tremendous,” Smith said. “I think the past two or three games we have had offensive linemen play their best games of their career. When you can do that and the offensive linemen can stack quality games, that’s something special. We have to capitalize on that.”
Big plays played a big factor in Thursday’s game. The Trojans had four plays that went over 50 yards and five plays that went over 40. The running game provided a 75-yard run by quarterback Kaleb Barker, a 63-yard run by backup quarterback Sawyer Smith and running back B.J. Smith had a 78-yard touchdown run.
“We have good players,” Brown said after the game. “I think the offensive staff, outside of myself, has done a good job putting us in some schematic situations. Our offensive line has really dominated the front once we got into league play. When you have the ability to run the football and the quarterback is having an opportunity to pull the ball down and run, it spreads the defense out and you’re able to hit some vertical runs.”
The Trojans averaged 9.108 yards per rush, shattering a school record they posted just five days prior in the win over Coastal Carolina. Offensive Coordinator Matt Moore was quick to give credit to his offensive line.
“It’s like I told you before, the running back position’s getting better every week. One week it’s BJ, it was Barker the other night, he ran really well early,” Moore said. “It’s just one of those things where all we do is work fundamentals all the time, from an O-line standpoint. We’re getting hats on hats and we’re talented enough up front to move people around. Both guards played really well and Crumitie played really well – he actually won lineman of the week.”
B.J. finished the game with two touchdowns, giving him eight on the year, which is good enough for seventh nationally and first in the Sun Belt Conference.
“BJ played really well,” Brown said. “Jabir (Daughtry-Frye) didn’t play that well this week, but he played at an extremely high level the previous week. Both of those guys, we have a lot of faith in them.”
Despite the strong numbers, Smith is focusing on just one thing.
“I’m not really focused on that,” Smith said. “I’m looking to go out there and prepare so we can come back 1-0.”
The Trojans look win their sixth consecutive game this Saturday against Liberty.