Troy’s Kimani Vidal carried an unlit cigar into his post-game press conference after a 28-10 victory over South Alabama on Thursday night.

The stogie was in recognition of Vidal becoming the Trojans’ all-time leading rusher with his workmanlike 24-carry, 125-yard effort that included the game-clinching 1-yard touchdown run with 3:12 to play. During the post-game locker room celebration, the Marietta, Ga., native also received the game ball from the man whose record he surpassed, DeWhitt Betterson Sr.

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But winning the “Battle for the Belt” for a sixth straight year? That’s become almost routine for Vidal and the Trojans.

“When I first got here, it was a standard that you beat South,” Vidal said matter-of-factly. “We’re just continuing that.”

The two most-recent victories over the Jaguars have helped Troy secure its status as the unquestioned Kings of the Sun Belt West, a division to which they moved from the East when the conference realigned and added four members in 2022. The Trojans are now 9-0 vs. Sun Belt West teams the last two years, which also coincides with Jon Sumrall taking over as head coach.

Thursday’s victory didn’t quite lock up the division title for the Trojans, who still likely must beat Louisiana on Nov. 18 to play in (and probably host) the Sun Belt championship game for the second straight season. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 2-2 in the conference heading into Saturday’s game at Arkansas State, and already have a victory over South Alabama on their ledger.

Troy has won six straight games since a 16-14 loss to James Madison on Sept. 16, which dropped the Trojans to 1-2 this season. Troy edged Western Kentucky 27-24 the following week, but has been on a roll since, outscoring its last five opponents 125-33.

A defense led by veterans Richard Jibunor, Javon Solomon, T.J. Jackson and Buddha Jones up front and Reddy Steward, O’Shai Fletcher and Dell Pettus in the secondary has been especially key. The Trojans held South Alabama to just 252 yards of total offense on Thursday, and have limited seven of nine opponents this season to fewer than 300.

“We have been playing pretty good defense,” Sumrall said. “We have really come together on that side of the ball. And it’s a testament to our staff and all the work on that side of the ball. Our players do a great job of working to prepare so they can play their best.”

That last statement also sums up Vidal, a star for a state championship Marietta High School team whose size (5-foot-8, 215 pounds) limited his college options. He signed with Troy in 2020 and split time with first B.J. Smith and then DK Billingsley before blossoming with an 1,132-yard, 10-touchdown season for the Trojans in 2022.

Vidal has been the undisputed No. 1 back for Troy this year, and at least temporarily leads all FBS rushers with 1,119 yards through nine games. He’s also an unquestioned leader in the locker room, Sumrall said, routinely beating the coaching staff into the team facility for early-morning workouts.

“Wow, unbelievable,” Sumrall said. “I talk a lot around here about how better people make better players, and if they were all Kimani, they would not need me. They could let anybody be the head coach. He’s an absolute rock star. Fantastic player, one of the best people I’ve ever been around in this game.

“So grateful for all his hard work. … There were times in the offseason where I’d roll in at 4:30 in the morning and Kimani’s already in the weight room rolling out, with his gallon jug of water. He’s a pro’s pro.”

Vidal hasn’t carried the offensive load alone for the Trojans this season, however. Sixth-year senior quarterback Gunnar Watson is also playing the best football of his career, with 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions this season — including six TDs and no picks in his last two.

And then there’s wide receiver Chris Lewis, a 6-foot-4 matchup nightmare on the outside. The Kentucky transfer hauled in three touchdown passes among four receptions on Thursday night and is averaging 24.3 yards per catch this season.

Lewis was originally recruited out of Pleasant Grove High School in the Birmingham area by Sumrall, a Kentucky assistant from 2019-21. After catching just two passes in two seasons with the Wildcats, Lewis entered the NCAA transfer portal and headed back to his home state to re-join Sumrall with the Trojans.

“Just going from being at my high school and being ‘the man’ to going to Kentucky and not really playing a lot, I just had to reset my mind,” Lewis said. “I had to tell myself that I need to work harder to get what I want. And I knew once I hit the portal that I could trust one coach and that was Sumrall. I’ve known him since I was in the ninth grade. “I knew if there was any coach in the nation I could trust, it was him. Just coming here and knowing that he trusts me and has got my back, I give my all for him.”

Troy returns to the field on Nov. 11 at Louisiana-Monroe.