Troy dominates Southern Miss with explosive fourth-quarter performance
- Damien Taylor highlighted his exceptional skill by rushing for 169 yards and scoring three touchdowns.
- Troy scored 21 points in less than two minutes during the fourth quarter of the game.
- The victory brings Troy’s season record to 4-8 and Southern Miss to 1-11.
On Saturday, November 30, 2024, in TROY, Alabama, Troy University demonstrated a commanding performance against Southern Mississippi, winning 52-20. The game highlighted the exceptional skills of Damien Taylor, who rushed for an impressive 169 yards and scored three touchdowns, leading the team's offensive onslaught. Matthew Caldwell contributed significantly by throwing for a touchdown and adding another through a rushing attempt. The game witnessed a particularly explosive fourth quarter wherein Troy scored 21 points in less than two minutes. Taylor's first touchdown came midway through the third quarter with a 56-yard run, boosting Troy’s lead to 24-8. Following this, he sealed the victory with a 35-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 38-20 with just over five minutes remaining in the game. In a critical turn of events, Ian Conerly-Goodly intercepted a deflected pass and returned it, further elevating Troy’s lead to 25 points. Shortly after, LJ Green intercepted another pass from Southern Miss's quarterback, Tate Rodemaker, and returned it 49 yards to the 16-yard line. Jordan Lovett then capitalized on this opportunity by scoring from the 5-yard line. The game outcome firmly established Troy's resilience, as they improved their season record to 4-8 overall and 3-5 within the Sun Belt Conference, while Southern Miss fell to 1-11 overall with an 0-8 conference record. The performance not only brought Troy joy but also provided Taylor with the milestone of reaching 1,000 rushing yards for the season, a personal achievement underlining his pivotal role in the team's offensive strategy.