Breaking down record-setting night by Devonte Ross and first win for Troy coach Gerad Parker with multiple photos
TROY – Devonte Ross had a record-breaking night and Gerad Parker got his first win as a head coach as Troy pulled away in the second half in defeating Florida A&M 34-12 on Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Ross, the junior receiver, set a single-game school record with 229 yards on 11 catches while scoring touchdowns of 20, 44 and 98 yards just a week after catching two TDs and returning a punt for a score at Iowa.
"It's a blessing, man," Ross said. "All glory to God. Without Him, I wouldn't be able to do the things I do ... without my teammates every day getting me better, and my coaches do a great job of putting us in good positions to be successful."
The 98-yard score came with just 8:36 left in the game when quarterback Goose Crowder threw to Ross, who caught it around the Trojans' 41 and took it the rest of the way down the sidelines in front of the Troy bench and into the end zone.
The touchdown was the second longest score in Troy history. In 1986, Troy quarterback Mike Turk connected with Titus Dixon on a 99-yard touchdown pass.
On the last catch, Ross said he had to speed up a bit.
"That's one of those plays that's just go get it," Ross said. "I just ran as hard as I could and I looked up and saw Goose was throwing the ball. I was kind of running a little slow, so I had to speed up and get under it."
Crowder returned to the starting lineup after missing last week's game at Iowa while recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in the second game of the season at Memphis.
He completed 18-of-25 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns.
"Devonte has been awesome," Crowder said. "All year during the offseason he worked his tail off. I can't give him enough praise.
"Obviously when I came here last season, Devonte and me I'd say we had a pretty close relationship. He's a great guy. Working in the offseason and getting that chemistry going ... it pays off on Saturdays."
Troy's coach Parker credited Ross for the way he's grown on and off the field.
"It's a record-setting evening that I think has been backed up by a little bit of change of who Devonte Ross is," Parker said. "This guy has understood the importance of academics.
"His practice habits have changed immensely ... the way he prepares and all these things. Now you throw in great genetics and talent to go with preparation and look what's happening. This is not a mistake of what's going on."
As Parker exited the field on Saturday with his first victory as a head coach, he was embraced by family members and Troy support personnel, such as Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins and athletics director Brent Jones.
"It's hard to put into words what that feels like when you see your kids run up to you and just want to hug their dad," Parker said. "I couldn't be more grateful for how that moment was.
"I just think there's such a great feeling of about what this place feels like at Troy ... how they wrap their hands around you and make you feel the way they do is different. You could feel that more so tonight than ever, and that's something we can build on."
Besides the big effort by Ross, running back Damien Taylor had a nice showing as well, picking up 109 yards on 15 carries with a 40-yard touchdown run and 7-yard TD catch.
FAMU quarterback Daniel Richardson, a transfer from Florida Atlantic, shredded the Troy secondary at times in completing 25-of-39 passes for 288 yards. However, the Trojans' defense did bend but not break in limiting the Rattlers to four field goals in the game.
"The one thing about our defense is we don't like to give up touchdowns," Troy linebacker Steven Cattledge said. "The last couple of games we are still trying to find our identity ... like trying to be that Troy defense that everybody knows what Troy is about."
Troy dented the scoreboard on the first drive of the game when Taylor ripped off his 40-yard gallop, the longest run of the season for the Trojans. Scott Taylor Renfroe nailed the extra point kick for the 7-0 advantage. It was the first opening drive score of the year for Troy.
Cameron Gillis got FAMU on the scoreboard on the ensuing possession with a 29-yard field goal at the 7:34 mark. The Rattlers converted a 4th-and-1 on the drive. Gillis knocked through a 22-yard field goal at the 1:11 mark of the first quarter, cutting the Troy lead to 7-6.
A holding penalty on FAMU during a punt to Ross with just over a minute left in the half added 10 yards onto his return of 18 yards, placing it at the Rattlers' 40.
Following an offsides penalty on FAMU, Crowder connected with Ross down to the 20 with just under a minute left in the half. On the next play, Crowder quickly spotted Ross, who hauled in a pass just over the line of scrimmage and turned up field for a 20-yard touchdown. Renfroe made the PAT, giving the Trojans a 14-6 lead.
But FAMU answered in the final minute, getting another Gillis field goal, this time from 31 yards with five seconds left, to cut the deficit to 14-9 at halftime. The Rattlers drove 61 yards in just five plays – the big play being a 48-yard pass from Richardson to Jamari Gassett – to set up the field goal.
After Ross put Troy up 21-9 with his 44-yard catch in the third quarter, FAMU got back on the scoreboard with yet another Gillis field goal of 43 yards to make it a 21-12 game at the 5:29 mark of the period.
Taylor's 7-yard TD catch in the opening minute of the fourth quarter put the Trojans up 27-12. Renfroe's PAT try was missed.
But Troy padded the lead with the 98-yard throw and catch from Crowder to Ross to finish it off.
Troy (1-3) opens Sun Belt Conference play next Saturday in hosting Louisiana-Monroe with a 6 p.m. start.
Jon Johnson is sports editor of the Dothan Eagle and can be reached at or 334.712.7965. Support his work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com . Follow Jon Johnson on Twitter
