3 takeaways from Troy blowout of North Texas in the 2017 New Orleans Bowl
By Zach Bigalke
2. Brandon Silvers outdueled Mason Fine in the Superdome
A big reason why Troy came into the New Orleans Bowl with a 10-2 record and a share of the Sun Belt title was thanks to senior quarterback Brandon Silvers. The veteran
Silvers started the New Orleans Bowl 11-of-11 before his first incomplete throw. From there he cooled off a bit, with a 6-of-11 stretch that included an interception. Silvers ended the game 24-of-31 for 306 yards and four scores. He added a touchdown on the ground. It was a stellar all-around performance that deserves a few looks from NFL teams trying to strike gold in the late rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft.
He was far more dynamic than Mean Green quarterback Mason Fine. After gaining the starting position in 2016 as a true freshman, Fine progressed even further this year as North Texas won the C-USA West title. He improved his completion rate by nearly five percent over the course of the regular season, throwing for over 3700 yards with 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Fine went 30-of-54 for 303 yards against the Trojans defense, throwing two touchdown passes to get to 30 on the season. He tossed a couple of interceptions that allowed Troy to pull away. He still has two more years to put together a four-year starter legacy like Silvers, but he didn’t get a bowl win in his first postseason try.