Troy football rides Gunnar Watson's arm to dominant Sun Belt title win over Coastal Carolina
Troy football dominated Coastal Carolina to win the Sun Belt Championship Game 45-26 on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Trojans (11-2) got their first win in the Sun Belt title game in their first appearance in the league championship contest and their sixth Sun Belt title. Troy is on a 10-game win streak under first-year coach Jon Sumrall.
Troy will learn its bowl destination and opponent Sunday.
The Trojans raced out to an early 24-point lead thanks to two DK Billingsley touchdowns and a Deshon Stoudemire receiving touchdown. RaJae’ Johnson bookended two Coastal Carolina touchdowns and halftime with two receiving touchdowns.
Coastal Carolina (9-3) added two fourth-quarter touchdowns but the game was out of reach already. Troy officially sealed the game with an interception with under two minutes to go. FBS career tackle leader Carlton Martial finished with nine tackles.
Offense led by big performances
Troy quarterback Gunnar Watson had his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season and his first since September. Billingsley had his second career three-touchdown game, the other coming in 2019. Johnson had his first career two-touchdown game.
Watson finished 12 for 17 for 318 yards and three touchdowns with Johnson rolling up 134 receiving yards.
Title game:Troy football coach Jon Sumrall eager to host Coastal Carolina in Sun Belt Championship
More:Troy football linebacker Carlton Martial breaks FBS record for career tackles
Trojans start perfect
Troy had a great start to its first Sun Belt title game appearance, taking a 10-point lead in just over five minutes of game time. Stoudemire muscled his way in to cap the 65-yard receiving touchdown on the Trojans' second drive. Watson quickly got 100 yards passing through the first two drives.
The defense forced a three-and-out on the first drive and followed it up with another stop. The defense got the stop with two negative plays on the second drive.
McCall return ruined by Trojan defense
Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall returned after being out for four weeks due to a foot injury. Even while out, McCall earned Sun Belt Player of the Year honors but couldn’t provide a boost to the Chanticleers' offense. The Trojans defense forced five stops on the first five drives with four three-and-outs including a fourth-down stop.
In the first half, McCall accounted for 73 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. He improved as the game went on, finishing by going 29-41 for 39 yards with three touchdowns while adding one on the ground.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Troy football dominates Coastal Carolina in Sun Belt championship game
