Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
Column: Thomas' Historic Day
10/5/2013 6:04:00 PM | Football
As Troy junior linebacker Mark Wilson attempted to answer questions from the media after the Trojans' 34-33 home victory over South Alabama, he could think of just five words to describe his feelings about the end of the game, "Thank God for Eric Thomas."
While Wilson was in a state of disbelief, for Thomas this was just another day at the office with five catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
But today was a historic day for the receiver from Shreveport, La., Thomas caught his 25th career touchdown in the second quarter, a 62-yard grab, that put him into first place on the Sun Belt career leaderboard, passing T.Y. Hilton's 24 career TD catches.
A day of celebration for Thomas was almost marred by defeat, however. A game that the Trojans controlled for nearly four quarters had come down to a South Alabama 65-yard touchdown catch with 48 seconds left that sent the Jaguar fans into a frenzy up 33-27.
But with the game on the line for Troy, the Trojans had 48 seconds to go the length of the field to capture the narrow victory.
Thomas, the Trojans' senior wide receiver had played the role of hero many times during his long decorated career, but this time, in this game, with seconds ticking towards zero, it was all on him.
"Coach [Blakeney] told me if I don't catch it, nobody should catch it," Thomas said. "So I just made sure I came down with the ball to give us the win."
Troy senior quarterback Corey Robinson was only throwing it to one man when he snapped the ball and lobbed it towards the far left corner of the end zone.
"When you throw to it up to a guy like that," Robinson said. "Nine times out of ten he's going to come down with it."
As the ball fluttered towards Thomas, the South Alabama defensive backs grabbed and clawed desperately to break up the inevitable.
"I knew the safety blitzed and I had zero coverage," Thomas said. "I knew once the ball was in the air I had a chance to go get the ball."
The yellow flags were flying for defensive pass interference, but by then Thomas had put the ball in his vice-like grip.
The crowd erupted because Thomas had just tied the game 33-33 with seven second left with a Will Scott extra point coming to make it 34-33.
"It means a lot," Thomas said. "The last couple of Homecomings we haven't won and now we control our own destiny."
While Wilson was in a state of disbelief, for Thomas this was just another day at the office with five catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
But today was a historic day for the receiver from Shreveport, La., Thomas caught his 25th career touchdown in the second quarter, a 62-yard grab, that put him into first place on the Sun Belt career leaderboard, passing T.Y. Hilton's 24 career TD catches.
A day of celebration for Thomas was almost marred by defeat, however. A game that the Trojans controlled for nearly four quarters had come down to a South Alabama 65-yard touchdown catch with 48 seconds left that sent the Jaguar fans into a frenzy up 33-27.
But with the game on the line for Troy, the Trojans had 48 seconds to go the length of the field to capture the narrow victory.
Thomas, the Trojans' senior wide receiver had played the role of hero many times during his long decorated career, but this time, in this game, with seconds ticking towards zero, it was all on him.
"Coach [Blakeney] told me if I don't catch it, nobody should catch it," Thomas said. "So I just made sure I came down with the ball to give us the win."
Troy senior quarterback Corey Robinson was only throwing it to one man when he snapped the ball and lobbed it towards the far left corner of the end zone.
"When you throw to it up to a guy like that," Robinson said. "Nine times out of ten he's going to come down with it."
As the ball fluttered towards Thomas, the South Alabama defensive backs grabbed and clawed desperately to break up the inevitable.
"I knew the safety blitzed and I had zero coverage," Thomas said. "I knew once the ball was in the air I had a chance to go get the ball."
The yellow flags were flying for defensive pass interference, but by then Thomas had put the ball in his vice-like grip.
The crowd erupted because Thomas had just tied the game 33-33 with seven second left with a Will Scott extra point coming to make it 34-33.
"It means a lot," Thomas said. "The last couple of Homecomings we haven't won and now we control our own destiny."
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