STATESBORO – Sawyer Smith threw for 287 yards and a touchdown, and Troy scored 32 straight points on Georgia Southern to earn a 35-21 Sun Belt Conference football victory over the Eagles Saturday afternoon in Allen E. Paulson Stadium.
Key Moment: Trailing 14-3, the Trojans (8-2, 6-0) scored 14 straight points to end the first half, including a 92-yard touchdown drive that featured consecutive 40-yard completions from Smith to Luke Whittemore. Troy added 10 more points in the third quarter, capped by a 29-yard pass from Smith to Whittemore. Whittemore finished the game with 110 yards on three receptions.
GS Play of the Game: Shai Werts found
Wesley Fields wide open in the flat for a 44-yard gain down to the Troy 5-yard line to set up the Eagles' first score of the game.
Key Stats: Troy outgained GS 425-161 and outscored the Eagles 32-7 after the first quarter.
GS Players of the Game: Ellis Richardson caught his first two touchdown passes of the season, and
Wesley Fields caught five passes for a career-high 138 yards. Werts completed of 14-of-23 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
Key Scoring Plays:
- After a 19-yard punt gave the Trojans good field position, Tyler Sumpter hit a 45-yard field goal 4:39 into the game. Troy 3-0
- Ellis Richardson caught his first touchdown pass of the year, a 3-yard reception from Werts, with 6:51 left in the first quarter. GS 7-3
- Richardson caught a 2-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left in the first. GS 14-3
- Tray Eafford took the end-around handoff and went 3-yards for the touchdown with 9:44 left in the second quarter. GS 14-10
- A pair of 40-yard passes from Smith to Whittemore set up a B.J. Smith 6-yard touchdown run with 3:21 left in the quarter. Troy 17-14
- Tyler Sumpter knocks in a 42-yard field goal with 6:42 left in the third quarter. Troy 20-14.
- Smith connects with Whittemore for a 29-yard touchdown, and the Trojans add the two-point conversion with 3:39 left in the third. Troy 28-14.
- B.J. Smith scores on a 10-yard run 2:10 into the fourth. Troy 35-14
Up Next: The Eagles (7-3, 4-2) play their final two regular-season games on the road, starting at Coastal Carolina next Saturday, Nov. 17. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN+.