There was a solemn atmosphere in Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.

Two Western turnovers became two Troy touchdowns within a minute and a half span, giving the Trojans a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter.

A spark of hope changed all that.

The stadium of 16,972 erupted and fireworks exploded into the Bowling Green sky after redshirt-freshman quarterback K.J. Black threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Curtis Hamilton, cutting the deficit in half with :22 left in the second quarter.

“K.J. had a look in his eyes, and he embraced that big-game environment,” coach David Elson said in a press conference Monday. “I felt really, really comfortable (and) confident once I saw him go in there and saw his body language and the way he was handling himself.”

Topper fans were on their feet when both teams took to the locker room at halftime. Their school, team or Alma Mater would have a chance at knocking off the No. 1 team in the Sun Belt Conference at the Homecoming game.

Western had two chances in the final quarter.

The first came after junior running back Stephen Willis burst into the open field for a career-long 86-yard rush that set up a first-and-goal at the Troy 3-yard line with about 13 minutes left in the contest.

Two consecutive rushes for no gain by Black followed a one-yard rush by sophomore running back Tyrell Hayden in the sequence, and the Toppers settled for a 19-yard field goal by senior kicker Chris James.

Western got another chance later.

The Trojans (7-3, 5-0 Sun Belt) led the Toppers (6-4) 21-17 with 2:51 left in the fourth quarter and pinned Western on its own one-yard line following a punt.

“They were talking smack about how they were about to get the safety,” Black said. “I just knew I was going to throw it over their heads.”

In two plays, a 48-yard completion to Hamilton from Black and an 18-yard run by sophomore running back Marell Booker brought the Toppers to the Troy 33-yard line.

Booker’s rush was the last first down Western would convert.

Three plays later, Black was sacked on fourth and 13 at the Trojan 36 to seal the defeat.

Western held Troy’s nationally ranked offense to 363 yards.

“I was proud to be a part of that defensive performance,” senior defensive back Bo Smith said in a press conference Monday. “The guys could have easily folded and succumbed to the pressure of going against the first (Football Bowl Subdivision opponent at home). They stepped up. Everyone dug down deep and played hard.”

Willis rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, averaging 22.6 yards per carry.

Hamilton collected 147 receiving yards and a touchdown. His nine catches in the game helped him break the school’s career reception mark, giving him 135 catches for his career.

Western returns to action at 4 p.m. Saturday at home against Morehead State (7-3).

Reach Will Perkins at sports@chherald.com.