Appalachian State
Head Coach Scott Satterfield
Opening statement
First of all, give Troy and coach Neil Brown a lot of credit. We knew coming in that they had a really fine football team and we were going to have to play a really good game in order to be in this game. Their defense is very good, solid and one of the better defenses in our league. I'm so proud of our kids, the way they fought and they continued to fight throughout the whole game. Things didn't go our way at some points and we had a lot of penalties. Coming out of the second half, they had the onside kick and threw the double pass down the field. There are some things that happen in the game that you don't like, but we can grow from it and we'll build off of this win.
On what Troy did to keep it close
We haven't been in a game where it has been tight. This game was good for our football team and we will certainly build off of it. We have a quick turnaround and play in five days. They did a pretty good job containing our run, for the most part, but Marcus still ended up having a good game and had some good carries for us. It was a really good college football game out there tonight played by two good teams.
On Troy's fake field goal attempt
We told our guys, watch any kind of fake that they do. We prepped our guys for that.
On keeping up the energy from the Georgia Southern win
It's hard to come back with the same kind of intensity that we had last week. We played with emotion, we played hard, we fought, and there were times that we didn't look great out there tonight, but we have to get better. I give credit to Troy.
On the short turnaround for this Thursday
We don't have a choice, we got to roll, we got to go. Five days later, we are playing for a championship.
On Zach Matics
He has had a great year. I didn't expect anything different out of him. He worked his tail off in the offseason and all summer, he got his confidence back. We've played eight games and he's been right in the middle of all of them.
QB Taylor Lamb
Overall thoughts on Troy
They had a good defense. They had a good scheme against us, but we just killed ourselves with penalties in the first half. I thought we got it going in the third quarter and then made a mistake in the fourth quarter. We should've put the game away with the little pick. I'm proud of my team tonight.
On Troy's defensive looks
They did a lot of different stuff, especially on third and long. They did some stuff that we hadn't seen before.
On finally having a close game
We needed this to recharge back up for a big Thursday night game against Arkansas State. A win's a win, however you put it.
DL Ronald Blair
On never quitting
Keep fighting. That has been our motto all year and I think it worked out well for us tonight.
On the up-tempo offense being hard to keep up with
It was, but once we made a couple adjustments on the sideline about mayday calls and things that we saw, it makes it easier for us. At the same time, they had good success even when we made our adjustments. Troy did a great job of scouting and prepping the whole week.
On Arkansas State's quarterback
We had a little bit of a struggle tonight against Troy. We really want to get back and get better this week.
RB Marcus Cox
Overall thoughts on the game
Troy played great tonight. They had a good scheme against us. At the same time, the offensive line did a good job picking it up. We had a successful night on the ground, but not like we wanted to. We had to keep fighting. It was a hard-fought game, but we kept fighting and came out with the win tonight.
DL Stephen Burns
On defending the fake field goal attempt
Right when they snapped it, everyone on the line got good penetration. We could see the pitch and I just reacted to it.
OLB Kennan Gilchrist
On defending the fake field goal attempt
They were out there calling regular which let me know that something was up. We were just right there. They made it obvious that something was about to happen and we were in the right position to make that play.
On Troy's run game and adjusting to it
It was tough with them running so quickly. We had to get the calls in as well as trying to read and run the pass. That threw us off once they started getting rolling and it was hard to stop them. They're a solid football team.
K Zach Matics
On the game-winning field goal
Been waiting for it ever since I got off the plane after Southern Miss. I knew it was going to be up to me and I was ready for it.
Troy
Head Coach Neal Brown
Opening statement
I am really proud of our team. We competed our tails off against what I think is as good of a coached team that we've played all season and as good of a coached team that we are going to play this season. They've been far and away the best team in our league so far. I'm just really proud of our team.
On preparation
I knew we were ready to play. We had really good preparation all week. We're starting to buy in to be a more process-oriented team. Stacking things. Next play, next practice, next meeting, and we were ready to play. I told the team that these games are never lost on one single play.
On fake field goal on 4th and 1
I wanted to practice what I preach. I told the team that we were going to attack. We did that against New Mexico State. We came out and attacked in the second half and it worked. We just didn't execute the fake field goal very well. But if I had to do it over again, I'd do it the same way again.
On improvements
We are getting better as a football team. When we come back home to our home fans for the next two weeks, they are going to see a much-improved team. A team playing with a lot more confidence.
QB Brandon Silvers
On overcoming adversity
As an offense, we just kept battling. We battled after the first turnover for a touchdown. It was exciting to see and I wish we could've pulled it out in the end, but we didn't.
On momentum from last week's win
We had a lot of confidence coming into this game. We knew we needed to score points offensively. We had a lot of confidence after last week's game and we just carried that into this game.
RB Andre Flakes
On increased role
Once I took the starting role, I knew that I needed to step up and fill his shoes as best as I could.
On the team's mood in the locker room
Think about the next play, like coach always says, we are just focused on next week and starting fresh.
DB LaMarcus Farmer
On the interception
Being down seven, we were in a position where we couldn't go down by two touchdowns and I got a good jump on the ball. I wish I would've scored but the offense was able to take it down and score. We practiced creating turnovers and I'm glad it carried over into the game.
LB William Lloyd
On pass rush despite injuries to key players
We were able to get the job done. Like coach says, it was the next man up and we're only as strong as our weakest link. We were prepared for their running attack from practice, so it was almost second nature to respond to it.
