Culp-Bishop, defense carry Trojans to win

SIDNEY — Troy junior running back Jaydon CulpBishop didn’t need any extra motivation heading into Friday night’s game against Sidney.

Yes, Sidney entered 7-0. And, sure another back — Sidney’s Isaiah Bowser — was getting all the love.

But ...

“This is the grudge match,” Culp-Bishop said after rushing for 237 yards on 34 carries. “Them being 7-0 challenged us, but we just wanted to get a good conference win.

“We are trying to get a championship and we know we can’t lose another game.”

Behind the running of Culp-Bishop and a swarming defense, Troy handed Sidney its first loss, 48-21.

Troy takes over sole possession of first place in the Greater Western Ohio Conference American North Division at 3-0. Sidney is tied for second with Piqua at 2-1.

For Sidney, it was flashback Friday.

The 1974 Sidney team started 7-0 before falling in Week 8 to a 5-2 Piqua team with star rusher Kris Haines being held to 16 yards rushing.

Friday, Troy entered 5-2 and the Trojans held Bowser to 55 yards on 25 carries.

“It seems like it has not been the best of luck for us,” Sidney coach Adam Doenges said. “They are a good team. Their best beat our best. They just took it away.”

Culp-Bishop sympathized with Bowser after having to face the Troy defense in practice.

“They are the best defense in the GWOC. Period,” CulpBishop said.

While Bowser was being held to a season low, CulpBishop was having his own 1970s flashback.

With the Trojans pinned on their 1, Culp-Bishop cut through a gaping hole in the line, broke free of a tackle attempt and went 99 yards for the score to tie the school record of Mike Boyd in 1978 against Beavercreek.

“That was big,” Troy coach Matt Burgbacher said. “We just had a big turnover (an interception by Derek McDonagh) and I said a little prayer and looked up and he was gone.”

The interception by McDonagh was one of five Sidney turnovers. Troy also blocked a punt that led to a score.

“We’ve been really good about not turning the ball over,” Doenges said. “But it was a bugaboo for us tonight and I think that came from our guys trying to make big plays every snap instead of just making the play that was there.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Troy took a 20-0 lead at the break on a pair of scoring runs by Sam Jackson and a field goal.

Sidney finally got on the board in the third quarter when Keith Lee hauled in a scoring pass from Andre Gordon to cut it to 20-7, but Troy’s Shane Shoop took the ensuing kickoff 76-yards for a score.

Troy finished with 480 yards in offense.

“We didn’t let one bad play linger for two or three plays,” Burgbacher said. “We’ve seen signs, but this is the best game we have played this year on offense.

“The thing we stressed to them was to do their job. Don’t try to do too much, but trust each other and they did and made some big-time plays.”