Troy Falls in Season Opener at Boise State

Saturday, September 2

Boise, Idaho

2:45 p.m.

Troy University

0-1

Boise State

1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Troy

Boise State

Troy Falls in Season Opener at Boise State

9/2/2017 8:08:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: Adam Prendergast

Final Stats | Highlights

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State took advantage of costly Troy miscues to defeat the Trojans, 24-13, in the season opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Albertsons Stadium.

Troy committed three turnovers, eight penalties and allowed the Broncos to average 41.8 yards on kickoff returns and 24.8 yards on punt returns in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Boise State (1-0) got on the board just 94 seconds into the game on an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown by Avery Williams.

The Trojans (0-1) followed with one of their best offensive series of the game. A 26-yard reception by Damion Willis and a 26-yard run by Jamarius Henderson set up Troy inside the red zone. The Trojans were not able to move any closer and Bratcher Underwood booted a 38-yard field goal to put the Trojans on the board.

Troy's defense came up with big stops on Boise's next two offensive series – a fourth-down stand on its own 24-yard line by Sam Lebbie and a sack by Antione Barker that forced a fumble.

The Broncos, who improved to 103-6 at home since 2000, finally cracked the Troy defense as Alex Mattison broke through the middle for a 49-yard score to put Boise up 14-3 with 7:51 to play in the opening half.

Blace Brown brought life back into the Troy sideline with a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown with 2:30 to play in the opening half. Brown led the Trojans and ranked seventh nationally last season with six picks.

However, Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 48 yards and six plays later Haden Hoggarth booted a 41-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 17-10 advantage at the half.

Troy had its chances in the second half thanks again to the defense which limited Boise State to just 134 yards in the final 30 minutes of the game. The Trojans sacked Boise's two quarterbacks a combined four times and recorded 12 tackles for loss – the 10^th most in Troy's FBS history – in the game.

The Trojans had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the third quarter after dialing up a 16-play drive that took more than five minutes off the clock. With Troy facing third-and-8 from the Boise 19-yard line, Silvers threw a ball that was tipped into the air and pulled down by Deondre Douglas. The play was originally ruled a touchdown on the field. But following a review, the replay officials ruled that Desmond Williams stripped the ball loose and it went through the end zone for a touchback before Douglas crossed the goal line.

Troy's offense struggled to find its rhythm all afternoon as the Trojans finished with just 215 yards of total offense, it's lowest output under Neal Brown. Silvers finished 17-of-33 for 139 yards through the air, while Jordan Chunn rushed for 41 yards on just 11 carries.

Boise State's Brett Rypien didn't fare much better completing just 13-of-23 attempts for 160 yards before turning the ball over to Montell Cozart, who was 6-of-9 for 50 yards and a score. Mattison finished with 82 yards on 13 carries.

Underwood pulled Troy within four points, 17-13, with a 39-yard field goal with 10:59 to play in the game and Troy's defense came up with another big stop at Terrance Corbett dropped Mattison for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-1 on the Troy 20-yard line with just over seven minutes to play.

However, Silvers was intercepted by Kekoa Nawahine on the first play of the ensuing drive. Ten plays later the Broncos found the end zone to increase their lead to 24-13 with just 2:12 to play.

Quotable – Head Coach Neal Brown
To come in this venue and play this team that has one of the best home records in the nation since 2000 and to have a four-point game with about six minutes to go means we have a chance (to be good this season).

Turning Point
Trailing 17-10 in the third quarter, Troy put together a 16-play drive down to the Boise State 18-yard line. Deondre Douglas appeared to score the game-tying touchdown on a tipped pass, but following a review the call was reversed to a fumble and a touchback for Boise State.

Stat Geek
Antione Barker recorded his second career sack to force a fumble on Boise State's second drive of the game; Barker's first career sack also forced a fumble in the Dollar General Bowl last season.

Notable
• Blace Brown intercepted his seventh career pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was Troy's first defensive touchdown since Demetrius Cain returned a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown at UL Lafayette in 2015. It was Troy's first interception return for a touchdown since LaMarcus Farmer's 55-yard return against ULM in 2015.

• Redshirt freshman punter Tyler Sumpter finished with four punts of more than 50 yards and averaged 49.6 yards on his seven punts in the game.

• Jordan Chunn moved into eighth place on the Troy career rushing list with 2,387 yards after he rushed for 41 yards against Boise State.

Up Next
Troy opens its 2017 home schedule next Saturday when the Trojans play host to Alabama State at The Vet. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.