Troy trying not to get tripped up by Arkansas State

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State more than likely has been relegated to playing spoiler in the Sun Belt Conference race.

Troy will try to avoid being the victim this week.

The Trojans (5-2, 4-0 Sun Belt) bring the league's best record into Indian Stadium, a place that hasn't been kind, as they campaign for a second consecutive Sun Belt title.

Coach Larry Blakeney has never been fond of the multistage trip from Troy, Ala., to Jonesboro. But, despite the flights and bus rides, he warned it's no time for a letdown.

"A lot of tough trips really depend on how you go," Blakeney said. "It's hard to fly these days period, much less fly and bus on both ends. We're just trying to get our guys up there and get them in the right frame of mind and be as rested and asfresh as they can be."

Arkansas State (3-4, 1-2) may be teetering on the brink of mathematical elimination after its 24-7 conference loss at Middle Tennessee on Saturday, but the Indians have one thing going for them. In three Sun Belt games against Troy, Arkansas State has won each time, and the Indians hold an overall 5-1 record against the Trojans.

"They beat us in our own yard here last year," Blakeney said. "And we're not very fond of that. ... So we owe them one, or two, maybe three."

It's a difficult trip and a difficult opponent, Blakeney said. But, he added, defending a perfect conference record this timeof year is tough no matter where you play.

"It's paramount," Blakeney said. "Everything is obviously on the line for us in a situation where we've got to go play a very, very good and dangerous football team at their place, where we haven't been very successful. Every stop along the way, every movie we watch, every bus we ride and every meal we eat will be scrutinized to find a way to make it better and all that kind of stuff."

The Trojans enter the week with the Sun Belt's best passer, senior Omar Haugabook, averaging 275.0 yards a game. Haugabook, 6-2, 220 pounds, led the Trojans to their Sun Belt title and New Orleans Bowl victory against Rice last year and has improved this season, Blakeney said.

"He's a very accountable, serious-minded guy who loves to play the game," Blakeney said."He wants to be perfect for his team. Sometimes, I think that bothers him a little bit. He tries hard to execute, but he has good knowledge and good chemistry with receivers, and those guys up front try hard to protect him."

While praising Haugabook, a first-team preseason all-conference pick, Blakeney was wary of Indians redshirt sophomore quarterback Corey Leonard, who directed the last-minute drive that beat the Trojans 33-26 at Movie Gallery Stadium last year.

"Their young quarterback is just getting better and better," Blakeney said. "He's hard to tackle and saves a lot of plays with his feet."

Blitz-happy Middle Tennessee might have done the Trojans a favor with their defensive game plan last week that led to a school-record nine sacks of Leonard. Blakeney said thegame film is of interest to the Trojans.

"We'll always look at those most current games and we'll always try to take from them things that were good on the opponent's side of the ball," Blakeney said. "I know that going in Middle has been a very pressure-oriented team. ... We'll certainly look at what has been good against [Arkansas State] no question."

Still in line for Troy after the grueling trip to Jonesboro are Florida Atlantic, boasting a 3-0 Sun Belt record, and Middle Tennessee, 2-1. That makes this week's game even more important, Blakeney said.

"We've got to understand that if we get to Jonesboro and we're ready to play, we'll have a chance," Blakeney said. "If we're not ready to play, then they'll take us to the woodshed again and we'll be talking about this again next year."Arkansas State vs. Troy WHEN 6 p.m. Saturday WHERE Indian Stadium, Jonesboro RECORDS Troy (5-2, 4-0 Sun Belt); Arkansas State (3-4, 1-2 Sun Belt)