By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

ROSSVILLE – Another night, another lock-down performance by Troup’s defense.

In a preseason game against the Northside Patriots, Troup’s defense didn’t surrender a point in a 26-2 victory.

The story was the same in last week’s season opener against Ridgeland.

Facing an offense with a bunch of weapons, Troup’s defense delivered a suffocating performance on the way to a 32-0 win.

Ridgeland barely had 100 yards of offense.

The Panthers were limited to 98 rushing yards on 23 attempts, and talented quarterback Tanner Hill completed 2-of-5 passes for 18 yards.

“We didn’t give up any points defensively against Northside for four quarters, and it was four more quarters tonight,” Troup head coach Tanner Glisson said. “So the defense hasn’t given up a point. So it’s good to have those guys have some success, because we know the offense is going to be good.”

That offense moved the ball at will against Ridgeland, compiling more than 400 yards of offense.

Kobe Hudson, making his regular-season debut as Troup’s quarterback, completed 13-of-25 passes for 191 yards with touchdown passes to Jamari Thrash and Trea Mitchell.

Troup got it done on the ground as well with 221 yards on 35 attempts, and Hudson and Tyree Carlisle each had touchdown runs.

Helsyn Martinez added a field goal, and he was perfect on his four extra-point attempts.

Troup’s defense was put to the rest right off the bat.

On its first possession, Troup attempted a fake punt that was unsuccessful, and Ridgeland took over at the 15-yard line.

On a fourth-down play, though, Ridgeland was stuffed at the 1-yard line, so Troup took over.

Ridgeland’s next possession began in Troup territory following a punt, but once again the defense was up to the challenge.

Ridgeland was on the 23-yard line when Alonzo Ogletree came up with an interception, and his long return set Troup up just 33 yards from the end zone.

That didn’t lead to any points, but Troup broke through when it got the ball back early in the second quarter.

On a second-day play, Hudson hooked up with Jamari Thrash for a 23-yard touchdown, and Kevin Martin had the two-point conversion run to give Troup an 8-0 lead with seven minutes left in the half.

Ridgeland’s ensuing possession ended with a failed fourth-down attempt, and Troup went back to work.

Two minutes before the half, Hudson’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Trea Mitchell and the Martinez extra point put Troup on top 15-0.

In the third quarter, Hudson showed off his running ability.

On a third-down play, Hudson ripped off a 47-yard touchdown run, and Troup was ahead 22-0.

Later in the third quarter, following another interception, Troup drove from its own 40-yard line to the Ridgeland 13, setting up a field goal by Martinez.

In the fourth quarter, the Tigers thought they’d scored again on a punt return by Thrash, but an illegal block penalty was called at the 1-yard line.

The Tigers scored anyway, with Carlisle powering his way into the end zone from a few yards out, and the Martinez extra point capped the scoring.

“To come out of it healthy was big,” Glisson said. “We did everything we set out to accomplish.”

Troup will look to make it two in a row when it hosts Columbus on Thursday.