Troy entered Thursday night’s matchup against James Madison as a significant underdog. By the time it was over, the Trojans had delivered one of the Sun Belt Conference’s biggest surprises of the season.

Hayden Wolfe connected on a 27-yard field goal in overtime as Troy stunned James Madison 24-21, overcoming a 14-point deficit behind a defense that forced five turnovers.

The victory improved Troy to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in Sun Belt play, while James Madison fell to 7-2.

And early in the evening, an upset appeared highly unlikely.

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James Madison jumped ahead 14-0 in the first quarter behind quarterback Camden Coleman, who connected with Corey Scott and Braeden Wisloski for touchdowns.

The Dukes maintained control and carried a 21-7 advantage into halftime.

But Troy’s defense completely changed the game after the break.

James Madison, which had moved the football efficiently during the opening half, suddenly couldn’t protect the ball or sustain possessions.

The Dukes committed five turnovers, including three interceptions and two lost fumbles.

Troy capitalized.

Running back Merriweather scored on a 28-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, tying the game at 21.

From there, both defenses took control.

Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, sending the contest into overtime.

That’s when Wolfe delivered.

His 27-yard field goal gave Troy a 24-21 advantage, and the Trojans’ defense finished the job by preventing James Madison from answering.

The defensive effort was especially impressive considering the Dukes finished with 408 total yards compared with Troy’s 349.

But the turnover battle proved decisive.

Troy quarterback Tucker Kilcrease completed 15 of 31 passes for 179 yards without throwing an interception.

He also contributed 40 rushing yards as the Trojans finished with 170 yards on the ground.

Merriweather led the rushing attack with 84 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Keno Jones delivered 13 tackles, while Delvin Whitaker added a sack.

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The victory was particularly important for a Troy team attempting to build momentum in the final month of the regular season.

The Trojans have experienced their share of offensive inconsistencies, but Thursday demonstrated how an aggressive defense can keep a team competitive against superior opposition.

At 4-4, Troy remains within reach of bowl eligibility.

And after knocking off one of the Sun Belt’s strongest teams on the road, the Trojans have reason to believe their season could still finish on a much different note than it began.