Conference Leader Troy Is Tough Test For N T

MeanGreen61 · October 19, 2007

Conference leader Troy is tough test for NT

Richard White

Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: SPORTS

At 2:30 p.m. this Saturday, the NT football team will attempt to accomplish something it hasn't achieved in three years, consecutive wins.

This feat was last achieved Oct. 9, 2004, when NT defeated Utah State University on the road.

Coming off a 31-21 victory against the University of Louisiana at Monroe, NT (1-5, 1-2) knows that beating

Troy (4-2, 3-0) won't be easy. The Trojans have won four games in a row and are undefeated in conference play.

"This Troy team is definitely the cream of the crop in the Sun Belt," said head coach Todd Dodge. "If we can go on the road in a tough, hostile environment and get a win, it'd be a great shot in the arm for us to get back into the hunt."

Troy leads the series 3-1, even though NT has outscored Troy 53-45 in the four games combined. The Trojans have managed to squeak out victories by the slimmest margins. NT last beat Troy in 2003.

The players believe a win against a team of Troy's caliber would send a loud message to the rest of the conference.

"It's a good test for us to see where we're at," said freshman starting quarterback Giovanni Vizza. "A win would be a big statement to the rest of the Sun Belt."

Troy's potent offense leads the conference with an average 34 points a game. NT's defense, coming off its best performance of the season against the Warhawks, looks to keep momentum going on Saturday.

"We let our defense turn loose and play," Dodge said. "A lot of it has to do with confidence and playing with emotion and wreckless abandon."

NT's defense has given up 30 or more points in each of its first five games. NT was ranked last out of 119 teams in the nation in both scoring defense and total defense. Last Saturday's victory raised NT to second to last in both categories as the defense tries to rebuild in its final six games.

Senior defensive end and conference defensive player of the week Montey Stevenson admits NT has struggled to meet the lofty expectations placed on the program before the start of the season.

"You got your doubters when you're not up to some people's expectations," Stevenson said. "We're a good team even though our record says we're not. We know the type of team that we are even though we had mistakes at the beginning."

The real battle will be Troy's defense versus NT's offense. The Trojans have the best passing defense in the conference, allowing an average 184.2 passing yards a game. The Mean Green has the best passing offense in the conference, averaging 318 yards per game.

Vizza's growing mobility could be the deciding factor. His ability to either scramble and find open receivers or run the ball himself when he finds the holes in the defense is crucial for a team that has had problems establishing a consistent passing attack.

Vizza, who rushed for 66 yards last game, said he's up to the challenge.

"I am feeling more comfortable if the receivers don't get open or if there's pressure, for me to be able to run," he said.

The Mean Green will play at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium in Troy, Ala., against Sun Belt Conference leader Troy University.

Edited October 19, 2007 by MeanGreen61

tsufan · October 19, 2007

Conference leader Troy is tough test for NT
Richard White
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: SPORTS
At 2:30 p.m. this Saturday, the NT football team will attempt to accomplish something it hasn't achieved in three years, consecutive wins.
This feat was last achieved Oct. 9, 2004, when NT defeated Utah State University on the road.
Coming off a 31-21 victory against the University of Louisiana at Monroe, NT (1-5, 1-2) knows that beating
Troy (4-2, 3-0) won't be easy. The Trojans have won four games in a row and are undefeated in conference play.
"This Troy team is definitely the cream of the crop in the Sun Belt," said head coach Todd Dodge. "If we can go on the road in a tough, hostile environment and get a win, it'd be a great shot in the arm for us to get back into the hunt."
Troy leads the series 3-1, even though NT has outscored Troy 53-45 in the four games combined. The Trojans have managed to squeak out victories by the slimmest margins. NT last beat Troy in 2003.
The players believe a win against a team of Troy's caliber would send a loud message to the rest of the conference.
"It's a good test for us to see where we're at," said freshman starting quarterback Giovanni Vizza. "A win would be a big statement to the rest of the Sun Belt."
Troy's potent offense leads the conference with an average 34 points a game. NT's defense, coming off its best performance of the season against the Warhawks, looks to keep momentum going on Saturday.
"We let our defense turn loose and play," Dodge said. "A lot of it has to do with confidence and playing with emotion and wreckless abandon."
NT's defense has given up 30 or more points in each of its first five games. NT was ranked last out of 119 teams in the nation in both scoring defense and total defense. Last Saturday's victory raised NT to second to last in both categories as the defense tries to rebuild in its final six games.
Senior defensive end and conference defensive player of the week Montey Stevenson admits NT has struggled to meet the lofty expectations placed on the program before the start of the season.
"You got your doubters when you're not up to some people's expectations," Stevenson said. "We're a good team even though our record says we're not. We know the type of team that we are even though we had mistakes at the beginning."
The real battle will be Troy's defense versus NT's offense. The Trojans have the best passing defense in the conference, allowing an average 184.2 passing yards a game. The Mean Green has the best passing offense in the conference, averaging 318 yards per game.
Vizza's growing mobility could be the deciding factor. His ability to either scramble and find open receivers or run the ball himself when he finds the holes in the defense is crucial for a team that has had problems establishing a consistent passing attack.
Vizza, who rushed for 66 yards last game, said he's up to the challenge.
"I am feeling more comfortable if the receivers don't get open or if there's pressure, for me to be able to run," he said.
The Mean Green will play at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium in Troy, Ala., against Sun Belt Conference leader Troy University.

One of the many reasons that this game scares me to death! We are gonna get everyone's best game and that means there is no margin for error. Man, I am already nervous!