Troy Trojans, South Alabama Jaguars, and Southern Miss Golden Eagles finish out the regular season
(Pictured: Troy Trojans QB Brandon Silvers)
Three local teams have finished their regular seasons last Saturday. Two of those teams already getting ready for the next offseason and one getting ready for their bowl game. Those teams being the Troy Trojans, the South Alabama Jaguars, and the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. In the Sun Belt, the Trojans won their last game against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns 41-17 to finish out 4-8 (3-5 in conference play) and the Jaguars lost to the Appalachian State Mountaineers 34-27 to finish out 5-7 (3-5 in conference play). The Southern Miss Golden Eagles have surpassed their last 3 terrible years to win their West division in the C-USA but eventually lose to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers with a 45-28 score. These schools had some ups and downs but there are more reasons to celebrate than to loathe in team pity.
The Troy Trojans were going into the 2015 College Football season with a completely new look with longtime head coach Larry Blakeney retiring after the 2014 season. Former Trojans assistant Neal Brown took the reigns and turned a very good upside of what a rebuilding year is supposed to be. Former Gulf Shores Dolphins and current Trojans QB Brandon Silvers continued to develop into a fully reliable Quarterback that coach Brown trusted Silvers to be. Silvers threw for 320 yards on 22 completions (out of 28 attempted passes) and 4 passing touchdowns. His performance was enough to earn him one of ESPN's impact player of the week. Silvers this season has had multiple games with over 200 passing yards and 4 passing touchdowns. He has two years left for eligibility, look for him to be a favorite for all-conference consideration for next season.
(Pictured: South Alabama Blake Dees LB Blake Dees)
The South Alabama Jaguars needed a win over Appalachian State to become bowl eligible that means beating the Mountaineers who were 9-2. The Jaguars hung in the game until 1:16 left in the 4th when RB Jalin Moore got a rushing Touchdown for the Mountaineers to seal the game winner. The Jaguars were actually in position to beat the heavily favored Mountaineers but with 3 interceptions from QB Cody Clements, it did not help much to their case. It also didn't help that one of the best tacklers for the Jags was out with illness as the loss of Blake Dees showed in the performance of the defense. The former Spanish Fort Toro had 102 total tackles (62 solo) in his senior season with the Jaguars including a total of 20 against the Idaho Vandals.
The Golden Eagles of Southern Miss on the other hand is a team that did very well this season by going their conference title game. The Golden Eagles won their west division in the C-USA conference but could not get past QB Brandon Doughty and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers with a dominating 45-28 score. The Eagles gave up twice as much against the Hilltoppers as they normally allow from other teams they have played against as Southern Miss ranks 46th in the nation for points allowed (24.2 points). All is not lost for the 9-4 Golden Eagles' season as they prepare to face the Washington Huskies in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl on December 26th.
