Scott’s thoughts: Troy faces Southern Miss for yet another “Measuring stick game”

Three years ago, Neal Brown and Troy football were coming off a 4-8 season and fifth consecutive year without a bowl game appearance. Then the Trojans went to Clemson and nearly did the impossible. The Tigers escaped with the help of some questionable officiating, but the close call left many in Troy and across the country asking the same questions.

Was it a fluke game? Was Troy really that much improved? The next week was going to be a major proving ground for the Trojans when Troy traveled to Hattiesburg to play Southern Miss, Troy’s first peer conference opponent of the season.

The contest was aptly dubbed by coach Brown as a “measuring stick game.” Southern Miss was coming off a nine-win season and embarking on the Jay Hopson era in 2016.

It was a rainy, miserable battle that saw Troy quarterback Brandon Silvers complete just 10 of his 27 pass attempts for 123 yards. The Trojans still won 37-31. It was a statement win.

Jordan Chunn rumbled for 176 yards on 36 carries. None bigger than the 39 yard touchdown run in the third quarter that put Troy up 34-24.

It was a four hour game that set the tone for the rest of the season. Ground-and-pound football on offense and turnover creation on defense. The Trojans outscored the Golden Eagles 17-7 in points off turnovers, which was ultimately the difference.

Now, three years later, Troy finds itself in a similar position. There was no close fight with a Power Five in the first two weeks, but we don’t need one. The reputation and standard has well been set in stone since the last Southern Miss game.

But a new coach leads the Trojans now and the Golden Eagles make their first ever trip to Troy with a stacked roster and minds set on revenge.

Chip Lindsey has coached one game in his head coaching career, a 43-14 win over FCS Campbell. Troy’s secondary, the biggest question mark on the team, went untested throughout the game.

The unit is about to get a full-fledged exam against Southern Miss quarterback Jack Abraham. How the defense holds on the back-end will be telling.

Will the front seven do enough in the backfield to help the secondary? If the defense collapses, will the new-look offense keep up? There are a lot of questions to be answered by this game about where Troy football is.

Almost like its a measuring stick game.