TROY, Ala. (Interstat) — Goose Crowder threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, leading Troy to a 55-34 victory over Southern Mississippi on Tuesday in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Crowder, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback, completed 18 of 21 passes for 225 yards and added 17 carries for 145 yards. The Trojans improved to 3-2, while the Golden Eagles fell to 1-4. An announced crowd of 21,933 watched Troy control the game with a balanced offense and several timely defensive stops.

Troy set the tone early. Jordan Lovett took a rush left 15 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring, and Ethan Head added a 34-yard field goal. Crowder then capped a first-quarter drive with a 9-yard touchdown run on a rush left. Southern Mississippi found the end zone in the second quarter when Landry Lyddy connected with M. Sanders on a short right pass that covered 2 yards for a score. Troy answered with Crowder’s 1-yard touchdown run on a rush middle and his 5-yard scoring strike to Nick Hampton on a short right pass. The Trojans’ offensive line created consistent lanes for the running game, and Crowder made quick decisions in the passing game.

Southern Mississippi kept swinging. Early in the third quarter, M. Sanders threw deep right to AJ Little for a 75-yard touchdown, though the ensuing two-point pass failed. Crowder responded with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Lovett on a short middle throw. Lyddy later found M. Sanders for a 27-yard touchdown on a deep left pass, and Head made a 22-yard field goal for Troy. R. Briggs broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run on a rush left for the Golden Eagles before Troy regained control.

In the fourth quarter, Jaheim Merriweather scored on a 1-yard run up the middle for Troy. Southern Mississippi answered when Jamarice Wilder scored on a 1-yard run up the middle. Gavin Griffin then put the game further out of reach with a 12-yard touchdown run up the middle. The Trojans’ ground game proved decisive, with Lovett, Griffin and Merriweather all finding room against the Golden Eagles’ defense. Troy finished with a strong rushing effort that kept Southern Mississippi from mounting a late comeback.

Crowder’s performance stood out in a game filled with offensive production. Lovett rushed 12 times for 142 yards, caught two passes for 53 yards and scored two touchdowns. Griffin ran 15 times for 78 yards, caught two passes for 20 yards, returned three kickoffs for 52 yards and scored once. Merriweather added 15 carries for 72 yards, two catches for 14 yards and a touchdown. Hampton caught two passes for 9 yards and a score. Noreel White had a 37-yard reception, Mojo Dortch caught three passes for 33 yards, and TJ Lott added two catches for 30 yards. Jace Petty had two receptions for 20 yards, while Howard Kinchen and Nick Hampton each had two catches for 9 yards.

Troy’s defense made enough plays to complement the offense. Keno Jones recorded eight tackles and a quarterback hurry. Doug Nelson added six tackles. Donnie Smith had five tackles and a sack. Delvin Whitaker and Ty Clemons each contributed a sack and a quarterback hurry, while Kavion Henderson registered a tackle, a quarterback hurry and an interception. Jabari Strait also intercepted a pass. TJ Thompson and Bryce Steele each had four tackles, and Justin Powe finished with four tackles and a quarterback hurry. Jordan Perry, Jamarion Keyes and Bryce Steele were among the Trojans who helped limit Southern Mississippi’s late push. Marcus Goree Jr., Jaden Mosley and Tai Terrell each made two tackles, while Kam Curry added two tackles and a quarterback hurry. Makel Green had one tackle and one quarterback hurry. Miquon Merriweather, Gavyn Baker, Shemar Welch, Jaxon Villegez-Williams and Luke Hodge also contributed tackles. Evan Crenshaw punted once for 45 yards. Ethan Head made both field goals and all of his extra-point attempts.

Landry Lyddy did much of the heavy lifting for Southern Mississippi. The 6-foot, 198-pound quarterback from Shreveport, La., completed 24 of 37 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns and ran nine times for 13 yards. Kaden Saunders caught seven passes for 138 yards. AJ Little’s 75-yard touchdown was the Golden Eagles’ longest play. Steven Robinson ran six times for 29 yards and caught three passes for 34 yards. Jamarice Wilder ran nine times for 29 yards, caught one pass for 9 yards and scored a touchdown. MJ Johnson added a 6-yard run, one catch and three kickoff returns for 45 yards. Dusty Zimmer punted twice for 66 yards. Jeremiah Beck Jr. caught two passes for 25 yards, while Broderick Peters and Preston Kilgore each had one reception.

Southern Mississippi’s defense was led by Michael Robinson III, Landon Sylvie and Mathis Haygood, who each made 13 tackles. Jameer Lewis had seven tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Kameron Cyprien added seven tackles and half a sack. Malakai Murphy made six tackles. The Golden Eagles entered the game after a 24-21 loss to Tulane, a 48-20 loss to Connecticut and a 43-8 loss to Auburn, with a 49-3 win over Alcorn State. Troy had lost to Utah State 21-10 and Missouri 27-17 but beat Alabama State 34-17 and Sam Houston 24-21. Troy next plays at Louisiana, while Southern Mississippi hosts Arkansas State.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Troy 41, Southern Mississippi 30. Interstat’s ELO system gave Troy an 87.6 percent probability to win. Southern Mississippi had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +10. The total score of 89 went under the over/under line of 52.5.