Troy football has a tough task in Cure Bowl, slowing UTSA's fast-paced offense
Troy football is preparing for its first bowl appearance since 2018 when it faces UT-San Antonio in the Cure Bowl.
The game between the Sun Belt champion Trojans (10-2) and C-USA champion Roadrunners (10-2) will be played Friday (2 p.m., ESPN) at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
The Trojans are led by first-year coach Jon Sumrall, the former defensive coordinator at Kentucky. He led Troy to its first appearance in the Sun Belt title game, where the Trojans beat Coastal Carolina 45-26 at home.
Both teams are coming in hot
This is the only bowl game featuring two teams that won conference championships and also features two teams on 10-game win streaks. Both teams started the season 1-2 as Troy fell to Ole Miss and Appalachian State while UTSA fell to Houston and Texas.
The Trojans have won the games by an average of 11.3 points, but have won their past three games by an average of 22 points, scoring more than 34 points in each. The Roadrunners have won by an average of 17.8 points per game during the win streak.
SUN BELT CHAMPS:Troy football rides Gunnar Watson's arm to dominant Sun Belt title win over Coastal Carolina
TROJANS LEADER:Troy football coach Jon Sumrall eager to host Coastal Carolina in Sun Belt Championship
Roadrunners bring fast-paced offense
UTSA ranks No.9 in FBS in total offense (486.1 yards per game) and No. 12 in scoring averaging (38.7); both stats top the Group of Five programs. They are led by quarterback Frank Harris, who is tied for ninth in passing touchdowns (31) and sixth in passing yards (3,865). During a bowl week news conference, Sumrall called Harris "one of the top quarterbacks in college football and without question one of the best in Group of Five football right now."
The Roadrunners' run game has averaged 177 yards per game behind a balanced attack from Kevorian Barnes, Brenden Brady and Harris. Zakhari Franklin and Joshua Cephus are both averaging over 75 receiving yards a game.
Final ride for Martial, others
Multiple Trojans used an extra year of eligibility to come back this season and help Troy rebound from three straight five-win seasons. The big name is Carlton Martial, who broke the FBS career tackles record against Army and recorded four consecutive seasons of 100 or more tackles. Fellow sixth-year senior Austin Stidham is also participating in his final game. On Monday, Sumrall showed his appreciation for those who stayed around this year.
"They mean everything to this program," he said. "They came in as champions in '17, those two did and they are leaving as champions. I think they've seen a lot of things through this program, the good and the not-so-good at certain times, but they are the reason we are here. They are the reason we are where we are."
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: What to know as Troy football faces UTSA in Cure Bowl
