Troy 41, Navy 31
In a game of contrasting offensive styles, Troy's spread passing attack outscored the Navy's run-oriented option attack 41-31 Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Ala.
Troy (5-5) came into the game averaging 315 yards per game passing, ranked 15th in the nation. Navy (6-4) entered the contest rushing for 268 yards per game, seventh in the nation.
It was the Troy passing game that heated up first.
The Trojans struck first when Deon Anthony flipped a screen pass to Chandler Worthy, who raced 34 yards for a touchdown. It was Troy's seven-longest scoring play of the season.
After a 6-yard touchdown run from Shawn Southward, the Trojans continued the early onslaught when Corey Robinson completed a 62-yard touchdown pass to B.J. Chitty with 13:57 left in the first half. Troy led 21-0 early in the second quarter, but the Midshipmen would rally.
Navy cracked the scoreboard when quarterback Keenan Reynolds kept the ball on an option and ran right for a 5-yard touchdown. Navy added the extra point to cut Troy's lead to 21-7.
Reynolds scored again on another 5-yard run after completing a 68-yard pass to Shawn Lynch. An interception by Wave Ryder killed a deep Troy drive before Navy's second scoring possession.
The Trojans answered with Anthony's career-best 44-yard run, helping put Troy up 28-14 with 4:07 left in the second quarter.
Troy could not stop Reynolds from bringing the Midshipmen closer. He capped a 7-play, 39-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run. making the score 28-21 at halftime.
After Will Scott tacked on a 25-yard field goal to give Troy a 31-21 lead in the third quarter, Navy running back Gee Gee Greene countered with a 59-yard touchdown run on a pitch play. It was the longest running TD allowed all season by Troy.
With 12:35 left in the game, the Trojans scored again. Taking advantage of a Navy fumble, Troy marched 47 yards, capping the drive with another Anthony touchdown run for a 38-28 lead.
Nick Sloan's 27-yard field goal capped Navy's scoring and Scott added a 23-yard field goal for Troy with with 3:09 left.
