NDL: S30W1 - Buffalo (21) at Troy (24)
CJ Ogbonna and the Buffalo Bulls battle but Fall ShortBulls Charge Hard but Trojans Stand Firm
Article By: In a thrilling matchup that kept fans on the edge of their seats, the Buffalo Bulls fell just short of victory against the Troy Trojans, with a final score of 21-24. The Bulls showed tremendous heart and grit, but ultimately couldn't overcome the Trojans' home-field advantage.
Quarterback CJ Ogbonna (#7) led the Bulls' aerial assault, completing 14 of 21 passes for 157 yards. Despite throwing one interception, Ogbonna found the end zone once, keeping Buffalo in the game until the final whistle.
The ground game was dominated by running back Lamar Sperling (#32), who stampeded through Troy's defense for 119 yards on 23 carries, including a touchdown. Sperling's versatility was on full display as he also snagged 3 receptions for 21 yards, proving to be a dual-threat nightmare for the Trojans.
Wide receiver Nik McMillan (#3) emerged as Ogbonna's favorite target, hauling in 4 catches for 57 yards. The receiving corps spread the wealth, with Taji Johnson (#11) adding 3 receptions for 45 yards and tight end Jake Orlando (#81) contributing 2 catches for 14 yards.
The offensive line, led by Tyler Doty (#78) with an impressive 11 pancake blocks, provided solid protection, allowing zero sacks throughout the game. This stalwart performance gave Ogbonna crucial time in the pocket to make plays.
On the defensive side, safety Marcus Fuqua (#10) was a force to be reckoned with, racking up 5 solo tackles, 7 assists, and 2 tackles for loss. Linebacker Shaun Dolac (#52) wasn't far behind, contributing 4 solo tackles and 5 assists.
The game came down to the wire, with both teams trading blows throughout. Buffalo's offense showed balance, gaining 146 yards on the ground and 157 through the air. However, Troy's offense managed to edge out the Bulls in total yardage, 464 to 355.
In the end, it was Troy's efficiency in the red zone and on third downs (7-13 conversions), especially down the stretch with the Bulls unable to stop them in the final minutes. This proved to be the difference. Despite the loss, the Bulls showed tremendous heart and resilience, giving their all until the final seconds ticked off the clock.
As the team heads back to Buffalo, they'll be looking to build on this performance and come back stronger in their next matchup against UNLV. The Bulls may have lost the battle, but with this kind of determination, they're sure to win many wars to come.
Green (#0) rushes for a one yard touchdown in the first quarterCoach Carr, Trojans 1-0
Article By: SUMMARY-- After an up-and-down stretch as Baylor's interim head coach last season, Coach Carr notched his first win at Troy behind a fantastic offensive line. The Trojans front five combined for 34 pancake blocks and allowed no sacks in a 24-21 season opening victory over Buffalo at home.
PRESS-- "You can't go winless if you win your first game." Said coach Carr who's team was led by Senior running back Gerald Green. "I've seen what Green can do in the weight room, but there's a reason we have a 1-2 punch around here. He's not as versatile as some of the other backs... Today was everything on full display and you got to see how hard he's worked in the offseason. We've spent alot of time together since I've joined the program and I couldn't be happier to hand him my first game ball as head coach of Troy University."
STATS-- Green rushed for 115 yards on 17 carries while back up running back Damien Taylor gained 37 yards on 7 carries. Troy ran for 5.2 YPC as a team while 6-foot-4 Junior wide receiver Chris Lewis torched the Bulls secondary for 178 yards receiving on 6 catches, including a 52 yard touchdowna. Scott Renfroe, deemed to be the deciding factor in a 3-point contest, made the only field goal between the teams. The Junior kicker nailed a 50 yard field goal late in the 3rd quarter to break a 14-14 tie.
PLAY OF THE GAME-- Chris Lewis 52-yard touchdown with under one minute remaining in the first half. Lewis went deep on a streak from the slot and was able to blow by man coverage while just barely beating the reach of the lone safety. Goose Crowder hit his receiver in stride and tied the game at 14 going into the half.
UP NEXT--
Buffalo (0-1) vs Indiana (1-0)
Troy (1-0) @ aUtah State (0-0)
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