Troy University Athletics
Top Five Moments of 2016 from "Voice of the Trojans" Barry McKnight - No. 4
8/17/2017 8:39:00 AM | Football
Editor's note - We will countdown Barry McKnight's Top Five Moments of 2016 all this week.
The offseason – if there is such a concept any more in big-time college football – is drawing to a close, and my guys on the radio network and I are about to start buckling down in our preparations for the 2017 Troy football season. At Sun Belt Media Days in the last week of July in New Orleans, Neal Brown pointed out a critical early issue for this team will be to "turn the page" on last year. With that in mind, I'll look back for the final time on the moments from 2016 that meant a little something extra for me.
I don't need to recount the momentous, game-changing moments from the stars of the team; the Trojan Nation remembers them well and, if you don't, they've been catalogued very nicely here - Top 10 Plays of 2016. My account will be of the plays and players that might either have been overlooked in their impact and importance on a particular game, or have a backstory that you might enjoy. My Top Five Moments are not ranked; they're presented chronologically, so here we go!
No. 1 - Rashad Dillard/Andre Flakes at Southern Miss
No. 2 - Blace Brown at Idaho
No. 3 - Josh Anderson vs. Georgia State
No. 4 - Game-Tying Sequence at South Alabama
All Troy fans point to the 42-yard catch by Sidney Davis, leading to the winning touchdown by Jordan Chunn, as the most exciting play of an intensely exciting game at South Alabama last fall, and they'd be right. But these are MY memories, and one that I hold just as dear was actually a sequence of plays earlier in the fourth quarter.
I remember Jerry, Chris, and I being in knots all game; the Jags led throughout, and were up 21-13, at home, heading to the fourth quarter AND they had the football in Troy territory. I don't mind telling you, I was white-knuckling as I was keeping my notes and broadcasting the action.
But, one of the truly underrated Trojans of the year made a huge play that I will never allow to be overlooked. Big nose tackle Baron Poole got held on a possession down, third-and-six (they called it), but blew through the interior and sacked Dallas Davis to force a punt. An incredible play in a critical situation. So, here's the situation for Troy: down eight, on the road, 83 yards from the end zone. No problem, right?
Well, it was a testament to the character of this team that they set of on one of the most gorgeous eight-play, 83-yard drives in years, and it's interesting to note that not once on that possession were the Trojans in a third down. I'll also point this out: if I needed two yards for a score, and my life hung in the balance, and I could only choose one active back in college football to get it into the end zone … Well, give me Jordan Chunn. He plowed in from two yards out and got the deficit down to 21-19. Decision time. There were still 11 minutes left. Do you kick it and hope for a late score to win it? Or strike while you've got some tangible momentum?
What followed was one of the great play calls of the season. On the two-point try, John Johnson took an inside handoff on an end-around then threw it back to the left flank to Silvers, who caught it and was met at the one, but fell forward to tie it up at 21, preparing the stage for the final TD. Much credit has been given to the Troy offense (and there were definitely some memorable plays from Chunn, Silvers, Johnson and Davis) but, bear in mind, the Trojan defense held South Alabama scoreless in the second half to key the win. Rebuild the Wall, indeed.
The offseason – if there is such a concept any more in big-time college football – is drawing to a close, and my guys on the radio network and I are about to start buckling down in our preparations for the 2017 Troy football season. At Sun Belt Media Days in the last week of July in New Orleans, Neal Brown pointed out a critical early issue for this team will be to "turn the page" on last year. With that in mind, I'll look back for the final time on the moments from 2016 that meant a little something extra for me.
I don't need to recount the momentous, game-changing moments from the stars of the team; the Trojan Nation remembers them well and, if you don't, they've been catalogued very nicely here - Top 10 Plays of 2016. My account will be of the plays and players that might either have been overlooked in their impact and importance on a particular game, or have a backstory that you might enjoy. My Top Five Moments are not ranked; they're presented chronologically, so here we go!
No. 1 - Rashad Dillard/Andre Flakes at Southern Miss
No. 2 - Blace Brown at Idaho
No. 3 - Josh Anderson vs. Georgia State
No. 4 - Game-Tying Sequence at South Alabama
All Troy fans point to the 42-yard catch by Sidney Davis, leading to the winning touchdown by Jordan Chunn, as the most exciting play of an intensely exciting game at South Alabama last fall, and they'd be right. But these are MY memories, and one that I hold just as dear was actually a sequence of plays earlier in the fourth quarter.
I remember Jerry, Chris, and I being in knots all game; the Jags led throughout, and were up 21-13, at home, heading to the fourth quarter AND they had the football in Troy territory. I don't mind telling you, I was white-knuckling as I was keeping my notes and broadcasting the action.
But, one of the truly underrated Trojans of the year made a huge play that I will never allow to be overlooked. Big nose tackle Baron Poole got held on a possession down, third-and-six (they called it), but blew through the interior and sacked Dallas Davis to force a punt. An incredible play in a critical situation. So, here's the situation for Troy: down eight, on the road, 83 yards from the end zone. No problem, right?
Well, it was a testament to the character of this team that they set of on one of the most gorgeous eight-play, 83-yard drives in years, and it's interesting to note that not once on that possession were the Trojans in a third down. I'll also point this out: if I needed two yards for a score, and my life hung in the balance, and I could only choose one active back in college football to get it into the end zone … Well, give me Jordan Chunn. He plowed in from two yards out and got the deficit down to 21-19. Decision time. There were still 11 minutes left. Do you kick it and hope for a late score to win it? Or strike while you've got some tangible momentum?
What followed was one of the great play calls of the season. On the two-point try, John Johnson took an inside handoff on an end-around then threw it back to the left flank to Silvers, who caught it and was met at the one, but fell forward to tie it up at 21, preparing the stage for the final TD. Much credit has been given to the Troy offense (and there were definitely some memorable plays from Chunn, Silvers, Johnson and Davis) but, bear in mind, the Trojan defense held South Alabama scoreless in the second half to key the win. Rebuild the Wall, indeed.
Players Mentioned
Chanda Rigby Postgame Press Conference - No. 24 Alabama
Sunday, December 21
Troy vs. No. 24 Alabama
Sunday, December 21
Troy vs. Marshall (Full Highlights)
Sunday, December 21
Players Postgame Press Conference (Marshall)
Saturday, December 20