NTL FOOTBALL: TROY HAS ANOTHER OUTSTANDING SEASON IN 2025 (November 21, 2025)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Troy football had another dominant season in 2025, rolling to their third straight NTL title and making their third straight District IV, Class AA title game.

However, their goal of another district title and state title came up short against a very tough Southern Columbia squad in the D4 championship game.

“I am very proud of this team,” said Troy coach Jim Smith. “To be able to get back to another district final and another NTL championship was well deserved. They lost 10 players from the previous year, and many of those guys were all-state players. Not too many people felt we could have the type of season we had.”

Troy went 9-1 during the regular season as they opened with a big win over Sayre (57-8).

They would drop a 14-13 contest at Waverly in Week 2, but then rattled off eight straight wins the rest of the season.

They followed the loss with a victory over playoff bound South Williamsport (42-13) and held off a tough challenge from Athens (51-35).

They rolled to four straight league wins after that - Towanda (44-0), Wyalusing (49-14), Wellsboro (53-7), and NP-Mansfield (58-10) - then exploded for 70 points in a non-league victory over Central Mountain (70-29).

The Trojans ended the regular season by retaining the shoe thanks to a 49-6 win over Canton.

In the playoffs Troy rolled past Wellsboro (49-8), then out paced Warrior Run in the semifinals, 48-34.

However, they lost to Southern Columbia in the title game 42-0.

Mason Smith and Brendan Gilliland led the team, with Smith running and throwing for 1,000-yards each.

He ran for 1,063-yards and 20 touchdowns on 89 carries, while he had a 71-percent completion percentage with 1,056-yards and 18 touchdowns against one interception.

Gilliland ran for 1,333-yards and 21 touchdowns on 109 carries while hauling in 10 passes for 180-yards and one touchdown.

Kael Millard added 585-yards and eight touchdown on 92 carries.

Through the air Trey Teribury had 24 catches for 451-yards and eight scores, while Josiah Pesesky added 10 reception for 116-yards and three touchdowns.

Spencer Martin had 10 catches for 114-yards and three scores, while Reed Palmer had nine receptions for 111-yards and five scores.

Smith led the team in tackles, as well, with 57 while Jayden Kutt had 56 tackles on the year, 14 of them tackles for loss.

Millard led the team with five sacks, while Spencer Martin had four interceptions, and Logunn Heasley added three.

The Trojans say good-bye to a very talented senior class, led by Smith and Gilliland. 

However, they return plenty of talent, including their four top receivers, along with linemen Micah Pesesky and Seth Feldmeier. 

“We had great senior leadership, a group of players that have made NTL history in many ways,” said Smith. “They inspired a lot of younger players to work hard, and hold a very high standard. This will play dividends for the future.” 

Print Friendly Version