James Madison defeats Troy 31–14 in Sun Belt Championship, ending Trojans' title hopes

The Troy Trojans' bid for a Sun Belt Conference title came to a halt Friday night as the No. 19 James Madison Dukes powered to a 31–14 victory in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Despite a strong second-quarter surge, Troy couldn't overcome JMU's dominant defense and explosive ground game.

A Game of Momentum Shifts

The game opened with a slow start offensively, as James Madison took an early 3–0 lead in the first quarter. But the second quarter saw fireworks from both teams. Troy quarterback Goose Crowder capped a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Trojans a 7–3 lead. However, the Dukes responded immediately with a 73-yard touchdown run by Wayne Knight-the longest in Sun Belt Championship history-swinging momentum back in their favor.

Troy answered with a gritty 11-play, 75-yard drive, ending in a 2-yard touchdown run by Tae Meadows to close the gap to 17–14 before halftime. That would be the last time the Trojans found the end zone.

JMU's Defense Slams the Door

The second half belonged entirely to James Madison. The Dukes' defense, led by standout defensive end Sahir West, recorded eight sacks and held Troy scoreless over the final two quarters. West not only notched three sacks but also forced a fumble that linebacker Drew Spinogatti returned 22 yards for a game-sealing touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Alonza Barnett III added a 26-yard touchdown run late in the game, finishing with 85 rushing yards and 93 passing yards, including a touchdown pass to Braeden Wisloski in the second quarter.

Troy's Offensive Struggles

Troy's offense sputtered in the second half, managing just 177 total yards for the game. Crowder completed 15 of 34 passes for 196 yards but failed to throw a touchdown. Rara Thomas led the receiving corps with 82 yards on three catches, while the run game was stifled-Troy finished with -26 net rushing yards due to relentless pressure from the Dukes' front seven.

A missed 46-yard field goal by Scott Taylor Renfroe in the third quarter was the Trojans' last real scoring opportunity.

What This Means for Troy

The loss drops Troy to 8–5 on the season and ends their hopes of repeating as Sun Belt champions. Head coach Gerad Parker acknowledged the challenge postgame: "They certainly played championship football, especially in the second half, to finish the job. They outplayed us tonight".

Despite the defeat, Troy's season featured notable wins and a resilient defense. The team now awaits its bowl game assignment, where it will look to end the season on a high note.

James Madison's Statement Win

For James Madison (12–1), the win bolsters their case for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff. With a top-10 scoring offense and defense, and a statement win in the conference title game, the Dukes are making noise nationally. Coach Bob Chesney, reportedly headed to UCLA, closed his tenure at JMU with a championship and a potential playoff berth.