The No. 25-ranked Troy University Trojans (9-1) knocked off conference foe Appalachian State on Saturday to remain undefeated in conference play Saturday, and in doing so, made history.

The Trojans became the first team in school and Sun Belt Conference history to be ranked in the AP Top-25 poll.

Troy scored with 62 seconds remaining to knock off Appalachian State, 28-24, in front of the fifth-largest crowd in Veterans Memorial Stadium history.

“It really is a historic event for the not only the school, but the for the Sun Belt Conference to have a team ranked in the AP Top-25 poll,” Andalusia mayor and Troy University’s Board of Trustees member Earl Johnson said. “Alabama is now the only state with three of its institutions ranked in the AP Top-25. That is truly unbelievable considering we are up against bigger states like Texas and California.”

Johnson said that Troy head coach Neal Brown deserves a lot of the credit.

“It’s very impressive that this is just Coach Brown’s second year as our head coach,” Johnson said. “He took a program that hadn’t been at its best and he has taken them to historic heights in just two years.”

This Thursday, the Trojans have a big conference game against Arkansas State.

“Thursday night should be a very good football game,” Johnson said. “Both teams come in undefeated in conference play. It’s a little bit of a late kickoff, but it will be a nationally televised game. Troy hasn’t played many games that have been broadcast from coast-to-coast. This will be a good opportunity for the country to see a great football team in South Central Alabama.”

Johnson said that he wants to start seeing more people showing off their Troy colors in Covington County.

“Around here, you see a lot of people with flags, hats or shirts for those other two schools, but Covington County actually has one of the highest numbers of Troy alumni in the state,” Johnson said. “There is nothing wrong with supporting the other schools in the state, but I want to challenge the people that went to Troy to wave that Trojan flag and yell, ‘Go Trojans’ “

The Trojans’ lone loss of the season came by six points, 30-24, at Clemson back on Sept. 10.

Kickoff between Troy and Arkansas State will be Thursday at 8:30 p.m., in Troy. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.