Associated Press

TROY, Ala. (AP) — Damien Taylor rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns, Matthew Caldwell threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and Troy scored 21 points in less than two minutes in the fourth quarter to beat Southern Miss 52-20 on Saturday.

Taylor went straight up the middle from 56 yards out to give Troy a 24-8 lead midway through the third quarter. He added a 35-yard scoring run for a 38-20 lead with 5:50 left in the fourth.

On the ensuing possession, Ian Conerly-Goodly intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 31 yards, increasing the lead to 25 points. Southern Miss quarterback Tate Rodemaker was intercepted again and LJ Green returned it 49 yards to the Golden Eagles’ 16-yard line. Jordan Lovett took advantage of the short field by playing it in from the 5th.

Taylor reached the 1,000-yard mark this season for Troy (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt Conference). Caldwell was 14 of 26 for 187 yards and he carried the ball seven times for 30 yards.

Rodemaker threw for 234 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Southern Miss (1-11, 0-8).

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