ORLANDO, Fla. — When Texas-San Antonio running back Kevorian Barnes broke loose on a 53-yard run midway through the final quarter of Friday’s Cure Bowl, it looked to be just what the Roadrunners needed.
What they needed, however, was 5 more yards from Barnes. A touchdown-saving tackle by Troy safety Dell Pettus stopped Barnes at the 5-yard line, and then the Troy defense took over like it had all season.
Troy’s fourth-quarter goal-line stand was all the Trojans needed to knock off UTSA 18-12 and win their 11th straight game.
Friday’s game started off as a bit of a yawnfest that had a little bit of everything except scoring. But what happened between the goal lines was just enough to keep the fans awake.
For the first 16 minutes, the scoreboard looked more like an Orlando City soccer match as UTSA held a 2-nil advantage. The defenses controlled most of the game, but Troy finally showed why its defense was ranked 10th in the nation coming into the contest.
The Trojans (12-2) forced five turnovers by the Roadrunners (11-3), converting two into touchdowns, and they held UTSA scoreless in the second half. Troy gave up far too many yards for coach Jon Sumrall’s taste, but he was happy with the victory.
“It wasn’t very pretty in the first half. After the game, my dad, who is 74, said, ‘I’m glad to see you ... after the first half I wasn’t sure if you were here coaching or not,’ ” Sumrall said. “But these guys, all year, have continued to fight through all types of situations and circumstances, a lot of adversity.
“That was our 11th straight win since losing on a Hail Mary the last play of the game to App State. We were 1-2 at that point and we rattled off the last 11.”
The Troy defense yielded 345 yards of total offense and managed just 166, but the turnovers proved to be the key.
The game was billed as a battle between the high-flying UTSA offense, ranked 12th in the nation, and the vaunted Troy defense. Defensive physicality reigned, however. In the first half, UTSA sacked Troy quarterback Gunnar Watson five times, two by linebacker Trey Moore.
“It was as good a performance our defense has ever had since I’ve been here,” UTSA coach Jeff Traylor said. “Two really good defenses out there tonight.”
The Troy defense was especially solid in the secondary, allowing heralded UTSA quarterback Frank Harris 198 yards passing with two interceptions (23-42-2), and the Trojans held the Runners scoreless after trailing 12-7 at the break.
“I’m just so proud of our guys,” UTSA linebacker Moore said. “Going into this week we heard a lot about their defense and how great they were and we came in with the mentality that we were the best defense on the field. I feel like we showed ourselves a united performance.”
An interception and fumble on the same play led Troy to its first touchdown. The crazy play saw UTSA’s Clifford Chatman pick off a Watson pass, only to take two steps and fumble at the Runners’ 13-yard line. Troy receiver RaJae Johnson recovered the ball, leading to a Kimani Vidal 2-yard run and the Trojans were on the board.
“They said he had clear possession and two steps, so they ruled it an interception and a fumble,” Traylor said. “There was a whistle blown ... but I don’t know. They said, ‘You just play it out.’ That’s the explanation I was given.
“They’re really good on defense. Sometimes you gotta tip your hat to the other guy.”
Barnes summed up the game in talking about how the Roadrunners failed to score after his big run, the only big offensive play of the game.
“Big run, toward the end of the game, time is running down ... you gotta find a way,” said Barnes, who rushed for 132 yards on 21 carries. “Troy found a way to make a stop, so hats off to those guys, but as an offensive group ... we gotta do a better job when we get in those red-zone situations.”
