Kimani Vidal ran for a school-record 248 yards and Gunnar Watson threw four touchdown passes as Troy outlasted frisky Stephen F. Austin 48-30 at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

The victory was the 12th straight for the Trojans, who have not lost since Week 3 in 2022. Only defending national champion Georgia (16) has won more consecutive games.

On Saturday, Troy jumped on top 24-3 before Stephen F. Austin (0-1) battled to within 24-20 late in the half. Watson hit Ethan Conner on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds remaining in the second quarter to make it 31-20, and the Lumberjacks got no closer.

“I’m never going to apologize for a win,” Troy coach Jon Sumrall said. “We need to play a whole lot cleaner if we are going to achieve our goals. … We turned the ball over four times and didn’t protect the ball well. We don’t have time to make those mistakes. We’ve got Kansas State next weekend. If we make the mistakes we made today against them, then we are going to get exposed.”

Vidal did not score a touchdown, but compiled his school-record rushing total on just 25 carries. He broke a record that had stood since 1984, when Eddie Brundidge ran for 244 yards vs. Valdosta State.

Vidal has run for 200-plus yards in three of his last five games, narrowly missing the record when he ran for 242 vs. ULM in the 2022 regular-season finale. He ran for 155 yards in the first half Saturday, his eighth career 100-yard game.

“What a day for Kimani Vidal for achieving the single-game rushing yards record,” Sumrall said. “I’m not surprised at all. He’s one of the hardest-working guys in our locker room. There were plays that should’ve been behind the line of scrimmage, but he fought and bounced it out for huge runs.”

Troy scored 14 points in the game’s first three minutes, converting Asa Martin’s 51-yard return of the opening kickoff into Watson’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Conner for a 7-0 lead. On Stephen F. Austin’s first offensive snap, Reddy Steward picked off Brian Mauer and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown.

In addition to the two touchdown passes to Conner, Watson also connected on scores of 16 yards to Jabré Barber and 13 yards to Devonte Ross. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 198 yards and one interception.

Jarris Williams ran 3 yards for Troy’s final touchdown in the fourth quarter. Scott Taylor Renfroe added field goals of 29 and 36 yards for the Trojans.

Stephen F. Austin totaled just 240 yards of offense, but scored touchdowns of 2 yards by Anthony Williams and 18 yards by Jerrell Williams, plus three field goals by Chris Campos. The Lumberjacks scored once on defense, Amad Murray’s 37-yard fumble return in the second quarter.

Troy hits the road next Saturday, facing Kansas State at 11 a.m. in a game to be televised by Fox Sports 1.