Troy football claims Sun Belt Championship with dominant win over Appalachian State
For the second consecutive year, Troy football hosted the Sun Belt Championship. And for the second consecutive year, the Trojans defended home field. Troy (11-2, 8-1 Sun Belt) defeated the Appalachian State Mountaineers (8-5, 6-3) on Saturday night, 49-23.
Rain impacted the first quarter as both teams struggled to a scoreless tie through the opening 15 minutes. As the weather improved, so did the offenses. Two Kimani Vidal touchdowns gave the Trojans a 14-point lead, but App State's Kanye Roberts matched him, tying the game less than five minutes into the third quarter.
A long Chris Lewis touchdown stretched the Troy lead back to seven points, but after a stop, the Trojans made their first mistake: Jabre Barber muffed a punt, giving the Mountaineers prime field position. However, the defense held App State to a field goal, and four more touchdowns — interrupted by only a garbage-time Appalachian State score late in the fourth — kept the deficit comfortable.
Vidal runs wild
The junior running back continued his career year Saturday, rushing for a championship-game-record 233 yards and scoring five touchdowns. It was not only the second 200-yard, three-score game of the season for Vidal — he also rushed for 245 yards and three touchdowns against Arkansas State in October — it was also the second straight season in which a Trojan rushed for at least three touchdowns in the SBC title game, as DK Billingsley rushed for three scores in last year's contest.
Scouting Report: Troy football vs. App State: Scouting report, score prediction for Sun Belt Championship
Solomon's streak continues
Edge rusher Javon Solomon entered Saturday with 14.0 sacks, good for second in the Sun Belt. In the last three weeks, he had two games of at least three sacks and had eight in total over his last three games. On Saturday, he made it 10 sacks in his last four by sacking Mountaineers quarterback Joey Aguilar twice, including forcing a fumble that he eventually recovered.
Two for one
Trojan touchdowns on back-to-back scrimmage plays put the championship out of reach for Appalachian State. Vidal powered in for his third touchdown to extend the lead from four points to 11. Just six seconds of game time later, defensive back Don Callis brought the blitz, forced an Aguilar fumble and returned it for the score.
What's next
Troy will find out its bowl assignment on Sunday.
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This article originally appeared on The Courier: Troy football claims SBC Championship with dominant win over App State
