In a thrilling showdown on Saturday night, Gunnar Watson showcased his quarterback prowess, leading the Troy Trojans to a spectacular come-from-behind victory against Texas State. The Trojans, now on a five-game winning streak, stand tall with a 31-13 triumph, securing sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference West Division.
The game opened with a bang as Texas State's TJ Finley connected with Ashtyn Hawkins on a 28-yard touchdown pass, setting the tone for a competitive clash. However, the momentum shifted when Jordan Stringer intercepted Finley on a crucial third-and-goal at the Troy 4-yard line. This turnover proved pivotal, as the Trojans swiftly capitalized, marching down the field to equalize at 7-all with Watson's three-yard rushing touchdown.
Heading into halftime with a narrow 10-7 deficit, Troy regrouped, and the second half belonged to Gunnar Watson and the Trojan defense. Watson, displaying both his arm and legs, orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, throwing three second-half touchdown passes to Jabre Barber, Deshon Stoudemire, and Landon Parker.
Watson's stellar performance was nothing short of exceptional, completing 26-of-40 passes for an impressive 392 yards and three touchdowns. Jabre Barber emerged as a key playmaker, recording 10 receptions for 160 yards, adding to the offensive firepower that ignited Troy's comeback.
On the other side, Texas State faced challenges as Finley struggled, completing 24-of-38 passes for 262 yards but also throwing two interceptions and losing a crucial fumble. Ismail Mahdi, despite a commendable 128 rushing yards on 20 carries, contributed to the turnovers with a fumble of his own.
The Trojans' victory sets the stage for an intense Battle for the Belt rivalry game against South Alabama on Thursday. Troy, with five consecutive wins against their rivals, enters the matchup with confidence and momentum, aiming to extend their dominance in this fierce rivalry.
As the Sun Belt Conference West Division standings take shape, Troy's resilience and Watson's heroics have positioned them as the team to beat. The Trojans will look to build on this momentum and continue their quest for conference supremacy in the remaining games of the season.
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