From the <a href='http://www.troytrojans.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=15&url_article_id=913&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2' target='_blank'>Troy athletics web site</a>

Defense, Rushing Attack Key 13-10 Win in Sun Belt Conference Opener
Jim Stephan 10/04/2005

DENTON, Texas – Five caused turnovers and a season-high 283 yards rushing keyed Troy to a 13-10 victory over North Texas Tuesday night in a nationally-televised battle of two of the preseason Sun Belt Conference favorites. Toris Rutledge caught a 16-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and Greg Whibbs kicked field goals of 24 and 20 yards in the victory.

Sophomore Kenny Cattouse, who entered the game with 100 career rushing yards and just 49 on 23 carries in 2005, rushed for 106 yards on 20 attempts. It marked the second time this season that the Trojans had a back go over the century mark.

"We have had some big wins before in the Southland Conference," said Troy Head Coach Larry Blakeney. "But this is one of the biggest since joining the Sun Belt. Any time you can knock off the four-time defending conference champion, it is big." The win also snapped the longest conference winning streak in nation as the Mean Green and Boise State had each won 26 straight in league play.

Offensive muscle power in the third quarter led the Trojans to 160 yards rushing in the period and almost 12 minutes of possession time. Whibbs made his third attempt of the night after a 10-play, 82-yard drive that lasted 4:55.

The second field goal, six minutes into the fourth quarter, proved to be the deciding points in the contest. It came at the end of an eight-play, 62-yard march that started after a Mean Green fumble on a third-and-one attempt at the Troy 36.

North Texas added a touchdown with 1:38 to play to cut the score to 13-10, but Toris Rutledge recovered the ensuing onside kick and the Trojans gained the one needed first down to salt the victory.

Troy capitalized on its first gained turnover in 13 quarters top open a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Adrian Ghent recovered a muffed Mean Green punt return at the UNT 17 with 1:36 left in the period. After a short gain on first down, Meadows hit Toris Rutledge in the corner of the endzone for a 16-yard touchdown.

The Trojans dodged a bullet in the second quarter when Nick Bazaldua missed a 51-yard field goal, but a Joel Whinghter fumble at the Troy 41 set up a successful 21-yard attempt by Bazaldua on the Mean Green’s next possession.

Troy answered with a 10-play, 54-yard drive over the final 1:42 of the half, but a 43-yard field goal attempt by Greg Whibbs as time expired was blocked. The big play of the drive was a deadball unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on North Texas after a failed third-and-10 conversion attempt that kept the drive alive.

Nice win in front of a National TV audience

A win is always better than a loss, but we've still got to get get better every week.

GO TROJANS!