Landyn Locke was responsible for 18 of Sam Houston's 21 points
It came down to the final possessions. What separated Troy from Sam Houston.
It was never more than one possession for long. Troy edges Sam Houston, 24-21 at Veterans Memorial Stadium (AL). Troy won the closing stretch, which was all there was in it. Will Crowder threw for 165 yards on 24 attempts with three touchdowns and ran nine times for 38 yards.
Three plays
The game turned on a handful of snaps. Landyn Locke's 14-yard throw to Grady O'Neill for a touchdown on 3rd-and-11 at Q1 07:47. Then Will Crowder's 28-yard throw to TK Keyes for a touchdown on 2nd-and-12 at Q2 14:54. Later, Landyn Locke's 31-yard throw to Chris Reed for a touchdown on 3rd-and-5 at Q4 01:03.
The order of events
Sam Houston struck first through Landyn Locke, the game was tied 14-14 at the break and Sam Houston got the final points on a late touchdown by Landyn Locke.
The field was never the same length
Troy started 12 yards closer to the end zone on an average drive. Troy won the turnover battle 0-1, chiefly TJ Thompson (1 TFL, 1 INT, 3 tackles). In a game this tight, that was the whole margin.
How the two sides actually played on the night.
The names on it
Will Crowder threw for 165 yards on 24 attempts with three touchdowns and ran nine times for 38 yards — that score from inside the 20, four third-down conversions and a hand in seven plays of 15 yards or more. Fabian Rogosch caught three passes for 37 yards, one of them for a touchdown, including that score from inside the 20. TK Keyes caught two passes for 48 yards, one of them for a touchdown. For Sam Houston, Landyn Locke threw for 335 yards on 46 attempts with three touchdowns and lost 36 yards on five carries, including two of them from inside the 20, five third-down conversions and a hand in eight plays of 15 yards or more. Grady O'Neill caught seven passes for 86 yards, one of them for a touchdown, with that score from inside the 20 and two third-down conversions. Chris Reed caught three passes for 52 yards, one of them for a touchdown, with two third-down conversions. TJ Thompson was the disruptive one for Troy: 1 TFL, 1 INT, 3 tackles.
The takeaway
Historically similar games since 2019 — close margin, both offenses held far below norm — and how often that offense outperformed this level the following week.
A nervy, earned win for Troy; Sam Houston was one play from flipping it.
Discussion
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