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College football coaches have a tendency to downplay the significance of national rankings, at least until the final polls are in.But when a ranking makes history, not only for the program but the conference as well, that makes all the difference.Troys move into the No. 25 spot in the Associated Press media poll this week is not only a first for the Trojans program but for the Sun Belt Conference as well.And Troy coach Neal Brown wasnt being coy about the ranking.I am proud of it, he said. I think it is significant for our conference, for Troy University, for our athletic department. It proves and validates what we are doing with our program.In just his second year as the head honcho, Brown, who served as offensive coordinator at Kentucky, Texas Tech and Troy before returning to the Trojans in December 2014, has injected new life in the program that fell on somewhat hard times after winning or sharing five consecutive conference championships from 2006 through 2010.Since winning a piece of the title with Florida International in 2010, the Trojans have experienced only one winning record in conference play, that being a 4-3 mark in 2013 that helped them to break even for the season overall at 6-6.The other four years the Trojans finished up with losing records both overall and in league play, including Browns first year in 2015 when they were 4-8 overall and 3-5 in Sun Belt play.But they will put an 8-1 overall record and 5-0 league mark on the line when they host Arkansas State (5-4, 5-0 Sun Belt) at 9:30 p.m. ET at Troys Veterans Memorial Stadium. ESPNU will air the tantalizing matchup of Sun Belt leaders.The Trojans have won seven consecutive games since throwing a scare into then-No. 2 Clemson back on Sept. 10 before losing 30-24.The Red Wolves have a winning streak going as well, having won their last five outings -- all in league play -- since dropping a shocker to Central Arkansas 28-23 on the last Saturday in September.I think it speaks really highly of Blake Anderson and his staff to get them off the mat and put five wins in a row together and to keep improving, Brown said.Troy brings the leagues highest-scoring (38.1 ppg) and most productive offense (474.0 ypg) into the game led by the conferences leading rusher and third-most productive passer. Running back Jordan Chunn, who has earned the nickname MegaChunn for his 6-foot-1, 231-pound frame, has averaged 114.2 yards a game rushing.Quarterback Brandon Silvers has thrown for an average of 255.8 yards a contest while completing 65.6 percent of his passes with 19 touchdowns against only four interceptions. Wide receivers Deondre Douglas and Emanuel Thompson are tied for the league lead in receptions with 5.4 per game.Arkansas State has the No. 3 scoring defense in the conference, giving up 25.0 points per outing but has yielded 411.4 yards a game in total offense. Defensive ends JaVon Roland-Jones and Chris Odom have combined for 15 sacks, with Roland-Jones ranking third in the conference and Odom fourth.Sophomore quarterback Justice Hansen has completed only 58.5 percent of his passes but is coming off his best performance. In last weeks 41-22 win over New Mexico State, he was 20-of-27 passing for 257 yards and two touchdowns and one interception.Running back Warren Wand leads the rushing attack with 607 yards and five touchdowns. He rushed for 99 yards on 13 carries for two touchdowns against New Mexico State.I think they have gotten healthy defensively, Brown said of the Red Wolves. They missed some guys early in the season.Once they settled on the quarterback, you can see the chemistry growing between him and the receivers. The offensive line is playing better, too. A lot of credit to that staff for the way they responded.The game will be the second in a row for the Trojans against a team unbeaten in Sun Belt play. They dealt Appalachian State its first league loss 28-24 last week at Troy.Attachments areaCheap Jerseys Wholesale . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. China Football Jerseys . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.nflchinacheapjerseysstore.us.com/ .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. Cheap Jerseys From China . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup.BALTIMORE -- As soon as Chris Davis made contact, there was absolutely no doubt where the ball was headed: beyond the 25-foot scoreboard in right field and onto Eutaw Street. The drive also landed Davis in the Baltimore Orioles record book. Davis major league leading 46th home run helped Baltimore beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Wednesday night and enabled the Orioles to avoid a three-game sweep. Davis connected against Jeremy Hellickson (10-7) leading off the fifth inning to put Baltimore in front 4-2. It was the 74th homer in the 22-year history of Camden Yards to land on Eutaw Street, and one of the quickest to arrive there. "You know what? I come up here to go to the bathroom so I just heard it," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. Davis tied Jim Gentile for the third-most home runs in a year by an Oriole. Gentile hit 46 in 1961, Frank Robinson clubbed 49 in 1966, and Brady Anderson set the team mark with 50 in 1996. Davis has 25 homers at Camden Yards, tied with Rafael Palmeiro for most in one year. The single-season record for homers in Baltimore is 27, by Robinson at Memorial Stadium in 1966. "It means we put up one run on the board and we were able to get the win. Thats the biggest thing," Davis said. "Obviously team goals come before individual goals. Im happy to be swinging the bat well, Im even happier to get the win." Wei-Yin Chen (7-6) gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings to help Baltimore win for only the third time in nine games. "Big win," said catcher Matt Wieters, who sealed the victory with a brilliant throw in the ninth inning. "You like to get a series, but the only thing we could do tonight was win one game. We came out here and played well." Chen was backed by three double plays, two of which he started. "How many athletic plays did he make tonight that pitchers dont make?" manager Buck Showalter said. "Its one thing to catch it, its another thing to make that accurate throw." Darren ODay worked a perfect eighth and gave up a leadoff single to Wil Myers in the ninth before Brian Matusz walked pinch-hitter James Loney. Tommy Hunter then got two straight outs, and with runners on the corners, Kelly Johnson was thrown out by Wieters trying to steal second. It was Hunnters fourth save.dddddddddddd Baltimores usual closer, Jim Johnson, didnt get up in the bullpen. Johnson had blown three straight save opportunities and surrendered three hits in a non-save situation Tuesday. "Were going to put our best foot forward every night," Showalter said. "Jimmys our best option, one of them. Im glad weve got more than one good option." Jason Bourgeois and Sean Rodriguez hit solo homers for the Rays, whose second loss in eight games left them a game behind first-place Boston in the AL East. "A division series and you win two out of three games, thats a good spot to be in," Kelly Johnson said. "Well take it. Obviously, you want to win them all, but it didnt work out." Hellickson allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 0-4 with an 8.06 ERA in five starts since July 26. The Orioles used a two-run first inning to take their first lead in the series. After Nate McLouth led off with a single to snap an 0-for-17 skid, Manny Machado singled and Davis walked to load the bases. Adam Jones drove in a run with a fielders choice grounder, and Wieters hit a sacrifice fly following a double steal. Bourgeois hit a solo shot in second. It was his third career homer, the first since 2011 with Houston. In the bottom half, the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs for Davis, who hit a routine fly to left. Jones made it 3-1 in the third with his 26th home run, a drive to dead centre that travelled an estimated 446 feet. "Oh, that one was definitely filled with helium," Maddon said. "That ball did not want to come down." Rodriguez answered in the fourth with his third homer, the first since May 26. NOTES: The Orioles had lost five straight to Tampa Bay at Camden Yards, including the first two games of this series by a combined 11-5 score. ... Rays LHP Matt Moore, who has been on the DL since July 31 with a sore elbow, threw 59 pitches during a bullpen session Wednesday. He is slated to pitch a simulated game on Saturday. ... Both teams are off Thursday. Tampa Bay resumes play Friday at home against the Yankees and the Orioles host Oakland, one of the teams they are chasing for a wild-card spot. Maddon said Chris Archer (6-5) will start Friday night. ' ' '