Troy evened its season record at 2-2 while the Eagles fell to 1-3.
The Trojans combined a persistent running game with a stingy defense to dominate on both sides of the ball for most of the game.
With linemen Luke Randolph, Andrew Hines, Brandon Payne, Isaiah Ross and Justin Gregory paving the way, Troy’s offense ground out 17 first downs, 269 yards rushing on 44 carries and 327 total yards. While building its lead in the first half, the offense was fairly balanced - 123 yards rushing on 17 carries and 58 yards passing on three completions. In the second half, with a comfortable lead and trying to run out the clock, the Trojans kept the ball on the ground, churning out 146 yards on 27 carries.
Meanwhile Troy’s defense held the Eagles to nine first downs, 76 yards rushing and 80 passing. It was particularly miserly in the first half, limiting Bruceville-Eddy to five first downs, 16 yards rushing and 74 total yards. Leading the defensive charge were Ryan Dach, Jerek Foster, Ethan Randolph and Logan Tucker. Tucker and Derrick Vasta each had interceptions in the second period that led to Troy touchdowns, and Tucker set up another score with a blocked punt.
After a scoreless first quarter, Troy scored on the first play of the second period when Vasta carried a toss sweep 8 yards around left end into the end zone. Brandon Clark’s point-after kick made the score 7-0 with 11:52 left in the quarter.
The touchdown capped a methodical 14-play, 83-yard drive.
On Bruceville-Eddy’s next possession, Vasta intercepted a pass at the Eagle 40 and returned it to the 29. Three plays later, Jeremy Conrad broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run, giving Troy a 14-0 advantage with 9:20 remaining in the half.
The Eagles picked up one first down on their next possession before being stopped. Tucker got a hand on the punt, giving the Trojans good field position at the Bruceville-Eddy 42. On first down, quarterback Dylan Sebek connected with Tucker on a wide receiver screen in the left flat. With five blockers in front of him, the junior broke free along the sideline and dashed into the end zone. Clark’s PAT gave Troy a 21-0 lead with 6:05 left until halftime.
On the Eagles’ next possession, Tucker intercepted a pass at the Bruceville-Eddy 40 and returned it untouched up the right sideline all the way to the end zone. The PAT made the score 28-0 with 5:28 remaining.
Bruceville-Eddy started the game with an impressive drive, moving from its 31 to the Trojan 18 in eight plays. But a David Orange sack and an incomplete pass forced the Eagles to turn the ball over on downs.
After an exchange of punts in the third quarter, the Trojans finally put together a lengthy drive, moving from their 34 to the Bruceville-Eddy 4 in seven plays. But then the Eagle defense, led by Bubba Cullens, Josh Hargrove, Taylor Trigg and Jordan Hawkins, stuffed two running plays for minus-6 yards.
Clark then tried a 27-yard field goal, but the ball sailed wide to the left.
Logan Pratt, Cullens, Hargrove and Hawkins had a good game defensively for the Eagles.
Troy’s next possession also resulted in a time-consuming drive, moving from the Trojan 25 to the Eagle 3 in 12 plays. But after Bruceville-Eddy’s defense finally held, Clark was forced to try another field goal from 25 yards out. But it, too, was wide to the left.
Troy will host the Crawford Pirates next Friday while Bruceville-Eddy will travel to McGregor to take on the Bulldogs.
