Goose Crowder dropped a four-touchdown bomb on Southern Miss Tuesday night, ripping through their defense with two passing scores and two more on the ground as Troy took down the Golden Eagles 55-34 in their Sun Belt opener. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement, snapping a two-game losing streak for Troy and showing exactly what this offense can do.
Crowder Was Just Built Different
Crowder was absolutely electric. He threw for two touchdowns, yeah, but he also ran for two more, making Southern Miss defenders look silly all night long. His numbers speak for themselves: 18-of-21 passing for 225 yards, and a staggering 17 carries for 145 yards on the ground. That kind of dual-threat performance is nightmare fuel for opposing defensive coordinators, especially in a conference opener. He was the catalyst for an offense that scored on all five of its drives in the first half alone. Remember that nine-yard rushing touchdown he had to make it 17-0? That was set up by his own incredible 48-yard run. The guy was simply unstoppable.
Troy’s Offense Is Rolling, Southern Miss Is Struggling
It wasn’t just Crowder doing all the work, though he definitely owned the spotlight. Troy’s offense moved the ball with ease, racking up 437 yards on the ground. Jordan Lovett was huge, adding 142 yards on 12 carries, including that 15-yard run on the opening drive and a 46-yard touchdown catch in the second half that blew the game open to 38-13. They scored on their first drive of the second half too, just to drive the point home. This kind of offensive firepower is exactly what Troy needed after falling to Utah State 21-10 two Saturdays ago.
On the flip side, Southern Miss is in a rough spot. They gained 512 total yards, with Mario Sanders catching eight passes for 102 yards and a touchdown, and even throwing for another score. Landry Lyddy, the former UAB quarterback, stepped in and threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns. But even with those flashes, they couldn’t keep pace. This 55-34 loss means Southern Miss is now 1-4 and has dropped three straight games in Blake Anderson’s first season. They just can’t seem to get out of their own way. Troy now owns a six-game winning streak against the Golden Eagles, dating back to 2021, and they’ve won all five as Sun Belt foes.
Troy, now sitting at 3-2, just shook off a two-game losing streak with this dominant conference performance. They’re heading to Louisiana-Lafayette on October 17, and with Crowder playing like *that*, they’ve got real momentum. Meanwhile, Southern Miss needs to figure things out fast. They’ll host Arkansas State on October 17. The Sun Belt just got a whole lot more interesting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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