Troy makes triumphant return to Louisiana, rolls to 50-30 win over North Texas in R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

NEW ORLEANS — When Troy last visited Louisiana it was running back Jordan Chunn who led the Trojans to an eye-opening victory.

He ran for a career-high 191 yards and a touchdown as the Trojans upset No. 22 LSU, 24-21, on Sept. 30 in Tiger Stadium.

When Troy returned to Louisiana for the R+L Carriers Bowl on Saturday it wasn’t able to utilize Chunn, who was sidelined by a knee injury suffered in a victory over Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Championship two weeks earlier.

It turns out the Trojans can be just as effective throwing the ball as running it. Brandon Silvers passed for four touchdowns, and ran for another, as Troy defeated North Texas, 50-30, in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Silvers, playing the last game of his career, was named Most Valuable Player after completing 24-of-31 for 306 yards.

“He’s as good a quarterback as has ever played at Troy University,” Trojans coach Neal Brown said after Silvers established a school record with 86 career touchdowns accounted for.

The Trojans defense played a significant role as well, getting six sacks and creating five turnovers that led to 29 points.

“Our ability to pressure the quarterback was probably the difference in the game,” Brown said. “That led to turnovers and the big thing is we did something off the turnovers.”

They pressured Mason Fine, who threw two interceptions while completing 30-of-54 for 303 yards and three touchdowns.

“I felt uncomfortable all day long,” Fine said. “I never got into a rhythm.”

The Trojans, who were 7-1 in the Sun Belt, finished 11-2 after winning their seventh consecutive game.

The Mean Green, which was 7-1 in Conference USA and lost to Florida Atlantic in the conference title game, finished 9-5.

The Trojans lost a second key offensive weapon when leading receiver Deondre Douglas was injured on the opening kickoff. They still wound up with two 100-yard receivers as Damion Willis finished with 135 yards and two touchdowns on 11 catches and Tevaris McCormick finished with 107 yards and one touchdown on five catches.

“When Deondre got hurt I told Damion, “I’m coming to you,”” Silvers said. “I told him, “just do what you do” — catch the ball — and he did.”

Silvers led the way as the Trojans expanded their 22-20 halftime lead during the pivotal third quarter.

“We didn’t like how we finished the second quarter,” Silvers said. “We’re a veteran group. We’ve all played together for a long time. We knew what we had to do.”

On the first possession Hunter Reese snared a deflected pass from Fine for an interception, setting up Troy at the North Texas 27. Three plays later Silvers ran 1 yard for touchdown and on the Trojans’ next possession he threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to McCormick.

The Mean Green’s Trevor Moore kicked a 24-yard field goal before Silvers threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to John Johnson that gave Troy a 43-23 lead after three quarters.

Silvers threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Willis before North Texas completed the scoring on Fine’s 17-yard score to Turner Smiley.

“I think this was a program win,” Brown said.

Josh Anderson, who filled in for Chunn and wound up with 113 yards, scored on touchdown runs of 1 and 2 yards on the Trojans’ first two possessions.

“As disappointed as I was for Jordan,” Brown said, “that’s about how excited I was for Josh.”

Anderson had his first 100-yard game in the final game of his career.

“I wanted to get off to a good start because Jordan wasn’t there,” Anderson said, “and that’s what happened.”

His touchdowns gave the Trojans a 15-0 lead after less than six minutes.

“It’s never great to start like that,” North Texas coach Seth Littrell said.

Fine threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Rico Bussey, cutting Troy’s lead to 15-7 after one quarter.

Silvers threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Willis and the Trojans were poised to score again when they reached the Mean Green 22-yard line. But a snap sailed over Silvers’ head and Colton McDonald picked the ball up and ran 56 yard for a touchdown. That cut the Troy lead to 22-13 and shifted the momentum.

Fine’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Michael Lawrence cut the Trojans lead to 22-20 at halftime.

“We got off to a really fast start and then we hit a lull,” Brown said. “But then we came out in the second half and dominated the football game.”