Troy, AL -- Jason Samples reeled in a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter to help lead the Troy Trojans to a 37-17 win over the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State in a battle for the Palladium Trophy at Movie Gallery Stadium.

Samples finished with a five catches, the only player for Troy (7-4, 5-2 SBC) to have more than a single reception, while quarterback D.T. McDowell converted 8-of-17 passes for 144 yards in the victory.

The Blue Raiders (5-6, 4-4) were paced by DeMarco McNair who raced for 71 yards and a touchdown on just five rushing attempts in the losing effort. Quarterback Clint Marks hit on 17-of-32 passes for 131 yards but was picked off three times, leaving Josh Harris to come in and convert 10-of-14 passes for 62 yards and a score for MTSU.

Samples had TD catches of 25 and 44 yards in the first quarter to put the Trojans ahead by a score of 14-0 at the 7:05 mark of the period.

Middle Tennessee State then ran off 10 unanswered points with a 67-yard touchdown run by McNair and a 27-yard field goal from Colby Smith to cut the deficit to 14-10 at the break.

In the third quarter the Trojan defense came alive after the team posted a 22- yard field goal off the foot of Greg Whibbs. First Robby Farmer returned an interception 29 yards for a score at the 8:10 mark of the period and then Derrick Ansley nearly duplicated the feat with a 16-yard TD interception return to close out the period and give Troy a 30-10 lead.

In the fourth quarter MTSU's Harris found Kerry Wright with a 10-yard touchdown pass to make the score 30-17 in favor of the home team.

The Trojans closed out the night with a 61-yard touchdown run by Jermaine Richardson and wrap up the 20-point victory.