Jaheim Merriweather runs for 3 touchdowns and Troy defeats Alabama State 34-17

TROY, Ala. (AP) — Jaheim Merriweather ran for 127 yards and scored three times, leading Troy to a 34-17 victory over Alabama State on Saturday.

Troy gained 314 yards on offense in the first half and led 31-7 at the break. A 73-yard pass play from Goose Crowder to TK Keyes opened the scoring and Merriweather had touchdown runs of 69, 6 and 1 yard.

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After scoring on five of six possessions in the first half, the Trojans managed just three points after halftime. The Hornets rallied in the third quarter with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Body to John Austin and a 37-yard field goal by Andrew Abu-Akel, making the score 31-17. Both scoring drives started on the Troy side of the 50-yard line.

Ethan Head's 47-yard field goal made it 34-17 and Alabama State was stopped on downs at the Troy 32-yard line on the Hornets' only sustained drive through the remainder of the game.

Crowder finished 14-for-27 passing for 201 yards and Keyes had five catches for 119 yards for the Trojans (2-0).

Body was held to 105 yards passing for the FCS Hornets (2-1) and Jamarie Hostzclaw had 80 yards rushing that included a 50-yard run for Alabama State's first score.

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This was the 17th matchup between the schools separated by less than an hour, but only the fourth since the turn of the century. Troy leads 15-2.

Up next

Troy: at No. 23 Missouri next Saturday.

Alabama State: vs. Mississippi Valley St. on Sept. 26 —-

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