When this season began, it could've been argued, as we've discussed, that Troy looked past Schalmont toward their week 2 match with Amsterdam. Troy lost that night, then ran the table.
However, that nightmare scenario nearly played itself out a second time.
Troy, the #1 seed in the Class A Capital Division, welcomed the #4 seed in the Grasso Division, Scotia-Glenville, to Picken Field in a quarter-final matchup tonight. At first, it seemed as though Troy had their focus.
Just two plays into the game, Troy struck first, as Ari Holmes dashed 61 yards to paydirt. Michael Fazio, pressed into service to handle the kicking duties after a broken ankle ended Max Ellis' season last week, converted the PAT, and Troy had a 7-0 lead just 40 seconds into the game.
Then, the defenses took over. Troy's next possession ended at the Scotia 5 yard line when Alex Wolfe was intercepted. A subsequent Troy possession ended with Scotia taking over on downs at their 16. Troy didn't score again until Wolfe hit Makai (Don't Be) Cruel with a 7 yard touchdown pass with 5 seconds left in the first half. 14-0, Troy, at the break.
In the third quarter, Scotia gave Troy a taste of their own medicine, when David Frezone hit Jason Carusone for a 79 yard TD to cut the lead in half at 14-7, less than a minute into the second half.
Frezone had a chance to be a hero after Scotia recovered a Wolfe fumble with around a minute left in regulation. Under 30 seconds left, Frezone had Scotia looking at 1st & goal at the Troy 7. A false start on second down moved the ball to the Troy 12, but Frezone couldn't cash it in, as his 3rd & 4th down passes fell incomplete, and Troy moves on with a 14-7 win.
Both teams were sloppy on both sides of the ball. Troy had three turnovers, total, to Scotia's one, and both sides had penalty issues, including a pair of questionable pass interference calls on Troy, neither of which hurt the Flying Horses. Job one for coach Bob Burns and his staff, beginning tomorrow, is to tighten things up on defense, but that may be a bit of a problem. Star RB/DB Xavier Leigh came out of the game in the second quarter with what looked like a sprained ankle, making him at the very least questionable for the semi-final round game next week.
Making matters worse for Troy is that, as expected, their semi-final opponent will be old nemesis Burnt Hills, which eliminated Columbia earlier tonight. Averill Park defeated Ballston Spa, 22-0, to advance. They'll face the winner of tomorrow's LaSalle-Queensbury game. Burnt Hills has historically owned Troy. You can count on a hand and leave room for some fingers the number of wins Troy has earned over Matt Shell's Spartans.
Maybe Coach Burns should call in the Ghostbusters if all else fails.
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