A decrease in enrollment sent 2-time Section 2 Class AA champion Troy back to Class A this year. Unfortunately, while the Flying Horses graduated almost all of their starters from a year ago, that lack of varsity experience came up and bit them in a non-league opener against Schalmont (Class B) tonight.
James Allen sounded the warning during Spectrum News' Friday Night Matchup broadcast as he & Chris Watson reported that Troy trailed the Sabres, 14-6, in the 4th quarter with 9 minutes left. Allen attended a scrimmage between Troy and Newburgh Free Academy last weekend, and watched Bob Burns' club get knocked around. Troy returns just one starter from a year ago, sophomore DB/RB/KR Xavier Leigh, and reloaded with players promoted from the junior varsity. With less than a week between the scrimmage and tonight's game, it was clear that there are lessons still to be learned, as Troy's 26 game winning streak ends with the 14-6 final score.
Troy stays on the road, traveling to Amsterdam next week, seeking revenge for what had been the only blemish on Burns' record prior to tonight, that being in the 2015 Class A title game. Amsterdam, coming off a down year themselves, routed Lansingburgh, 37-14. The Knights will have their home opener next Friday vs. Schalmont.
======================================
Meanwhile, Friday Night Matchup began its 2018 season with a Class AA tilt between Saratoga and Christian Brothers Academy in the Spa City.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Blue Streaks drew first blood as Chris Klimek capped a second quarter drive with a 3 yard touchdown run. Saratoga led, 7-0, at halftime. In the third quarter, Deon Williams scored from in close to increase the lead to 14-0 for Saratoga. CBA's Fred Smith, making his first varsity start, found Devon Jones in the end zone. One two point conversion later, and, suddenly, the lead was six points at 14-8. However, that would be as close as CBA would get.
Later in the quarter, Saratoga QB Jake Williams took it in himself from 3 yards out, extending the lead to 21-8. Klimek finished the scoring with his second TD. Elijah Taylor and Ashton Capone registered sacks of Smith in the fourth quarter to ice it, and Saratoga, seeking their second straight Super Bowl berth, walks off with a 27-8 win.
=======================================
LaSalle won their opener for new coach John Audino, whose last game as a high school coach was as the freshman coach for CBA, all the way back in 1975, routing Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, 43-14. If tonight is any indication, this year's Collar City Cup game, coming up in two weeks, will not be a one sided affair like it was the last two years. Remember, it'll be LaSalle seeking revenge.
No comments:
Post a Comment