Horrible game.
Dwight Dasher’s return was supposed to ignite the team and especially the offense. That did not happen. What we saw instead was Troy slowly putting a slow squeeze on the poor Middle Tennessee offense in route to a dominating effort.
Throughout the game I felt Troy was not as impressive so much as Middle Tennessee was unimpressive. That includes Rick Stockstill. In the third quarter when the offense stalled again, he opted for another punt.
You know, the give-up play of football.
Sure, keeping the horrible Blue Raider offense out there was not an appealing option, but on Dasher’s first game back at the helm while he is clearly showing some rust, getting him more plays to get in rhythm seems like the better option.
Add to that the overall lack of intensity of the team in general — for a nationally televised game no less — and it adds to the disappointment that was Middle Tennessee State football.
Still, despite my initial impression, I have to say that Troy must receive credit. They could have easily succumbed to the Blackout and let the Blue Raiders fans overpower them. Instead, they choked the life out of said crowd by routinely corralling Dasher and company and slowly rolled up 500+ yards in the process.
Troy still is the class of the Sunbelt.
Whatever that means.
