The Belt trophy is staying in Troy for at least another year as the Trojans held off South Alabama 28-10 on Thursday night.

The Jaguars (4-5 overall, 2-3 Sun Belt Conference) were in the game until the final five minutes, when the Trojans (7-2, 4-1) made the score lopsided with two late touchdowns. Still, it was yet another night of frustration in the “Battle for the Belt” for South Alabama, which has not beaten its in-state and conference rival since 2017.

RELATED: Troy pulls away late, wins 6th straight ‘Battle for the Belt’

South Alabama now must win two of its final three games if it wants to reach a bowl game for the second straight season. Before that, here are 5 takeaways from the Jaguars’ 28-10 loss to Troy.

1. Lopez played well, but Bradley being out was costly

South Alabama fans should be excited about freshman quarterback Gio Lopez’s future after the way he played against the best defense in the Sun Belt on Thursday. He showed excellent poise and more speed and elusiveness than any Jaguars quarterback we’ve seen. That said, Carter Bradley being out with a knee injury limited USA’s offense, which is at its best when it can attack down the field. It’s the second time in three years the Jaguars have faced the Trojans without their top quarterback, after Jake Bentley was injured on the first offensive series at Troy two years ago.

2. Jaguars had a good plan, but Troy adjusted

Troy has been a second-half team much of the year, having outscored its opponents 80-9 in the final two quarters in their last five games. The shift in momentum actually started on the final drive of the first half, when Troy marched 94 yards in 12 plays to take the lead at 14-7. South Alabama kept it close until the final few minutes, when the Trojans put the pedal to the floor and made the game look like more of a rout than it was. Once the Jaguars got down two scores, though, it was over.

3. Situational breakdowns occurred too often

South Alabama was 0-for-10 on third down, which is no way to win a football game. Kane Wommack also got more conservative than normal, going against his M.O. to order punts on a few fourth-and-shorts in Troy territory. The old defensive coordinator tried to put the game in the hands of his defense, but the Jaguars weren’t up to that in the second half. Troy’s Kimani Vidal kept the chains moving on the ground. And when a big play was needed, the Trojans looked to 6-foot-4 receiver Chris Lewis, who exploited one-on-one matchups for three long touchdown catches.

4. Troy still rules the Sun Belt West until further notice

The Trojans are now an impressive 19-4 under Jon Sumrall and seem likely to steamroll their way to another Sun Belt West Division championship. With unbeaten James Madison (which dealt Troy its most-recent loss on Sept. 16) not eligible for the East title as an FCS-to-FBS transitional program, it seems likely the Sumrall’s team will host (and win) another Sun Belt championship. Sumrall inherited some very talented players at Troy, but he’s also supplemented the roster with transfers like Lewis, offensive linemen Eli Russ and Blake Austin and safety Irshaad Davis and developed quarterback Gunnar Watson, among others, into a true difference-maker.

5. South Alabama needs to prove 2022 was not an anomaly

The Jaguars have made a bowl game just one time since 2016, when last year’s team went 10-3. There have been some key injuries, but there’s really no excuse for such a step back this season, as nearly every notable player returned from a year ago. South Alabama has three games left to show that the program’s trajectory is still upward in Wommack’s third year. The Jaguars need to beat at least two among Arkansas State, Marshall and Texas State to be bowl-eligible and perhaps salvage what has been without question a disappointing season.

Next up: South Alabama hosts Arkansas State at 4 p.m. on Nov. 11. The Red Wolves are 4-4 overall, 2-2 in the Sun Belt heading into Saturday’s home game vs. Louisiana.