Troy tops Newburgh Free Academy in Class AA semi
MIDDLEBURGH, N.Y » The two minute mark of the fourth quarter was more than a warning for the Troy High football team.
It was the decisive moment of the Flying Horses’ season.
Instead of being crushed by the weight of the moment, Troy High’s players stepped up like they have all season.
Joe Casale handed the ball off to star running back Joey Ward going right, who then handed it to Dev Holmes going left on a reverse. The senior wide receiver broke several tackles and bullied his way into the end zone for the winning touchdown in Troy High’s 20-13 win over Newburgh Free Academy in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Class AAsemifinals.
The defending state champion Flying Horses (12- 0) will have are headed back to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse with a chance to repeat. Section VI champs Lancaster beat Cicero-North Syracuse in the other semifinal.
“We’re nothing but lucky going back (to the Dome) for another time,” senior Matt Ashley said. “They came out and smacked us right in the mouth. At halftime we decided to amp it up a bit. Play with heart. That came towards the end when we stepped up for a couple defensive drives — stopped them.”
Troy trailed for much of the second half after Newburgh Free Academy’s Gianni Hill dove into the end zone from 1 yard out to cap a scoring drive on the first possession of the third quarter.