Troy crowned Section II, Class A Champion
Posts 50-3 win over Burnt Hills
TROY, NY » Despite Troy and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake both entering Friday night’s Class A championship game undefeated, Friday night’s affair was as one sided as it could have been.
“We had a great season. This is obviously not how you want to end a season,” said Burnt HillsBallston Lake Head Coach Matt Shell. “The team we played is obviously an excellent football team.”
Troy claimed the Class A championship with a 50-3 win over the Spartans Friday night at Troy High. Leading the way for the Flying Horses was Alex Wolfe who threw three passing touchdowns and rushed in another two to help the Flying Horses clinch the win.
Troy finished with 412 total offensive yards while allowing 113 to the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Spartans.
Xavier Leigh punched in a 69 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the Flying Horses’ longest score of the game. Leigh tore the Spartan’s defense up all night but in Troy’s possession following Leigh’s 69 yard run, an awkward hit sent Leigh to the turf with a shoulder injury that would pause the game for several minutes as Troy personal ushered an ambulance to the field.
“You don’t want to see that,” said Shell who made his a way from the opposite sideline following the hit to check on the opposing player. “No matter who it is. He’s a super talented kid. It stinks that has to happen. Unfortunately anytime you step on the field that is a reality that can happen, but it’s something you never want to see. He’s going to bounce back and be better, if you can believe it, be better than he was tonight. You feel bad and it’s not a great way to end a game.”
Troy opened the scoring with a 16 yard run by Wolfe at 2:22 in the first quarter. Troy’s Avvon Smith scored his own from a yard out at 7:43 in the second quarter after a Burnt Hill’s fumble recovery to end the second quarter put pressure on the Flying Horses.
Wolfe connected with Tyrell Penalba and Nasir Dawud-Soto twice for passing touchdowns in the second quarter to put the Flying Horses up 35-0 at halftime.
Despite the early lead, Burnt Hills was able to force two turnovers early, one on Troy’s first drive and and the other right before Smith’s touchdown when the score was just 7-0.
“We got some turnovers early. We had opportunity,” said Shell. “When you don’t cash in on your opportunities in a game like this against a good team they are going to take advantage of those things.”
The second half was much of the same with Wolfe intercepting a Burnt Hills pass in the opening drive of the third quarter to kick things off. Wolfe took the possession that he had gotten for the Flying Horses with his interception and punched in a one yard rushing touchdown and converted a two point conversion thanks to a botched snap.
Burnt Hills responded with their most successful drive of the game which culminated with a 26 yard field goal by Michael Sbuttoni.
Troy’s final score of the game was Leigh’s 69 yard touchdown run at 9:20 in the fourth quarter.
“We were here a few years back with a seniorladen team and we beat
Troy up. All those kids over there were sophomores,” said Shell looking at the Troy sideline. “Look what they did tonight. If we can work harder in the offseason maybe that can be us next year. We have the ability and potential but it will depend on how hard they work in the offseason.
Knowing how I know them, I think we will.”