Matt Ashley steps up for Troy High Football
It isn’t hard to pick out Matt Ashley among Troy’s defensive players. Just follow the ball and the hard-hitting senior will show up soon enough.
Ashley recorded 8 ½ tackles, including a key third down stop in the fourth quarter and had the game- clinching fumble recovery in Troy High’s 20-13 win over Newburgh Free Academy last Saturday.
The victory earned the Flying Horses a return trip to the Carrier Dome for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA Championship. In 2016, Ashley played mostly as a cornerback in Troy’s undefeated season that ended in a 21-20 vic- tory over Victor at the Dome.
On Sunday, he will get a rare chance to end his career as a twotime state champion.
“We’re absolutely spoiled to go back there,” Ashley said after being named the Flying Horses’ defensive MVP against the Goldbacks. “A lot of people don’t get this opportunity so make the most of it. I can’t wait.”
No. 1 state-ranked Troy High (12- 0) will play fellow undefeated and No. 2 ranked Lancaster (12-0) at 3 p.m. Sunday. As the defending champs and the owner of the longest winning streak in the state — 25 games — the Flying Horses know they will play the role of the favorites.
“There’s a target on our back just like there’s been all year and we don’t want it any other way,” Ashley said.
Ashley has been a big part of Troy’s continued success after moving from a cornerback to a linebacker position. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound senior bulked up in the offseason to prepare for the role, but he often has to shake off linemen and other would-be blockers that tower over him.
“It’s heart over height,” Ashley said. “Coach (Bob) Burns told me in the winter I’d have to be on the line a lot going against guys that are bigger than me. I’ve stepped up to the challenge.”
After several run-stuffing tackles and big hits on special teams against Newburgh it wasn’t surprising to see Ashley come up with the ball in the play that essentially clinched the contest. After Dev Holmes found the end zone to put the Flying Horses ahead for
the first time in the fourth quarter, the Goldbacks got
the ball back with less than two minutes to try for the game-tying score.
Newburgh Free Academy quarterback Terry Anderson Jr. fumbled the shotgun snap on the next play
from scrimmage, however, and Troy’s No. 10 was once again in perfect position to make the play.
As a result, the Flying Horses still have more work to do. One game left on the schedule.
“I’m playing a different position than last year,” Ashley said. “I’m going to step up in that position. This will my final game.”