Less than 24 hours after their boys' soccer team spoiled Senior Night for Troy High, Averill Park sought to do the same to the Flying Horses in football, and clinch the Class A Capital Division in the process.
Let's put this in perspective. Since taking over as head coach at Troy three years ago, Bob (The Builder) Burns just doesn't lose at home. That made the task that much more formidible for the Warriors, who came into the night undefeated at 6-0. Yes, there's also the matter of collecting a three year old receipt from the last time they were here, but that was secondary to the job at hand.
After Troy went three and out on their first possession, Averill Park drew first blood when Joe Milanese raced 70 yards to paydirt against the porous Troy run defense. However, the Warriors chose to go for two, since QB/P Anthony Childrose doesn't have the confidence to kick PAT's or field goals, or so it would seem. The 2 point conversion failed, and Averill Park had a 6-0 lead.
That didn't last. Troy answered right back when Xavier Ward ran for a game-tying touchdown. Troy had the same problem with conversions, and their 2 pointer failed. The Warriors then marched back the other way, and Childrose helped himself by running it in from in close. Unfortunately, the 2 point conversion failed yet again. Averill Park was back up, 12-6, but that would be their last lead of the night.
Troy came back, as Xavier Leigh tied things up, but---wait for it---the 2 point conversion, which wasn't intended to be that way, failed, as Alex Wolfe's pass fell incomplete after a poor snap.
On the next possession, Childrose coughed up the football, and Tyrell Penalba, one of last week's heroes, recovered. A few plays later, Troy averted disaster when Keyshawn McMorris fumbled, but Jalen Elbert was Johnny-on-the-spot to recover and complete the run for a touchdown. Troy led, 18-12, at the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, Burns reached into his bag of tricks to ice the game in the fourth. Makai (Don't Be) Cruel, on the halfback option, hit Leigh for an 81 yard score. The defense bent, but didn't break, and Averill Park ran out of time, and magic. Troy wins its 4th straight division title, 2nd in Class A over that span, 24-12.
Next week, Troy begins its quest for a 3rd straight state title by hosting Scotia in the first round of the Class A playoffs. The Tartans locked up the #4 seed in the Grasso Division by disposing of Gloversville. Averill Park will host Ballston Spa.
The Class A playoffs shape up like this:
LaSalle at Queensbury (October 20).
Columbia at Burnt Hills.
Ballston Spa at Averill Park.
Scotia at Troy.
It's going to be interesting the next two weeks.
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High school sports mavens have one less outlet now. WRGB/WCWN has cancelled Upstate Sports Edge after three years on the air. The stations have opted to expand the 10 pm newscast to a full hour, leaving Spectrum News' Sports Night as a nightly option.
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More Troy High: The boys' soccer team ended a historically bad season Thursday night, as noted above, with another shutout loss at the hands of Averill Park. Coach Mike Murnane's club finishes 0-14-2, having lost their last eight, seven by shutout, including their last five. The women's match between Troy & Averill Park was postponed to Sunday due to poor field conditions. I suspect Averill Park has a grass field, and we're seeing more postponements in soccer than I can remember. I suppose student health is a paramount concern these days, but you'd never see a football game rained out unless it was under hurricane conditions.
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The Daily Gazette reported on Wednesday that LaSalle was forfeiting their two non-league wins over Ravena and Ichabod Crane due to the use of an ineligible player, which the school self-reported, chalking it up to a clerical error. Thus, LaSalle advances to the playoffs as the #4 seed in the Capital Division with a 2-5 record. Ichabod Crane has the same record after beating Lansingburgh, 32-0, ending a miserable, winless season for the Knights.
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