Sam Houston BearkatsvsTroy Trojans
SHSU 21/TROY 24
Things to say
Troy held on to beat Sam Houston 24-21 at home.
01
opener
Troy got the win but that one was closer than it should've been. Sam Houston scored late to make it a one-score game. The Trojans defense had to bail them out at the end.
02
key player
Goose Crowder was efficient for Troy. Only 165 yards but he threw three touchdowns on 24 attempts. You don't need volume when every drive ends in the end zone.
03
hot take
Sam Houston's Landyn Locke threw for 335 and still lost. That tells you everything about who actually controlled the line of scrimmage.
04
deep cut
Troy spread the touchdowns around to three different receivers. TK Keyes, Fabian Rogosch, TJ Lott all found the end zone. Hard to game-plan against that.
05
exit
Anyway, 1-0 is 1-0. We'll see if that offense holds up once the schedule gets real.
The recap
Troy survived a shootout 24-21, riding Goose Crowder's efficient right arm — the guy only threw it 24 times but hung three touchdowns on Sam Houston. The Bearkats actually outgained everybody through the air, with Landyn Locke slinging 335 and three scores of his own, but Troy landed the haymaker when Crowder found TJ Lott to open a 24-14 cushion in the second half.
Sam Houston clawed back with a Chris Reed touchdown inside the final minute-plus, but it was too little, too late and the onside dream died there. Locke's big numbers end up looking like garbage-time consolation — Troy made the plays that mattered and started the year 1-0.