BRADFORD-TIOGA HEAD START WILLIAMS AUTO GROUPWysox Sand & Gravel BUILDING No. 9 GRILLE Northern Tier Sports ReportFlynn Propane GANNON'S FCCBBC Tourism




NTL FOOTBALL: TROY FACES TOUGH TEST IN NP-MANSFIELD (2020-09-25)

CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Last week's win by Troy over Towanda left the team with mixed feelings.


They won 35-0 as they showed off a physical defense and big play capabilities, but they were also penalized 17 times and saw their offense sputter out on occasion.


“We are making every effort to build depth, limit mistakes and improve scheme,” said Troy coach Jim Smith. 


They will face a North Penn-Mansfield squad that has experience and is coming off a come-from-behind win over their rivals Wellsboro, 17-14, a week ago.


“NP is a good football team,” Smith said. “They are an experienced bunch of players. A much more confident team than one year ago. I expect a four quarter game.”


Troy knows that they’ve been their own worse enemy in this young season.


“We must not hurt ourselves with penalties as we have had a year’s worth of them in two games,” said Smith. “That won’t work this week.”


On the positive side their running game seems to be coming back into the fold. They ran for nearly 200 yards a week ago as their 1-2 punch of Caleb Binford and Damien Landon have given them more versatility than a year ago.


“We will have to play team football, no doubt,” said Smith. “We have to be able to capitalize on every opportunity.”


Defensively, they will have to slow quarterback Colton Litzelman and the Panthers’ quick hitting offense that has given Troy difficulty in the past.


For the Trojans, though, just being on the field is a win for them. Just down the road in Canton the Warriors won’t be able to take the field until the middle of next month due to quarantining from a Covid-19 positive case.


“The Covid issues are a distraction for everybody throughout the whole state,” Smith said. “This has most certainly been the most challenging year our staff and team has ever experienced. Team focus has been a daily fight for us. Our heart aches for the players, their families and the surrounding communities having to make concessions irregardless of anybody’s stance on this matter.”


The Trojans are doing their best to handle everything with care as they try to keep everybody safe.


“We are dealing with it one day at a time,” said Smith. “Trying to remain patient, doing our best to follow state guidelines, trying to build better young men and will remain thankful for any opportunity we get. In the end this is a fight we are all in together. It’s not about Friday night wins and losses; it’s about proving that the importance of education, work, sports and everyday life, especially as it pertains to our kids, is worth fighting for.”


What to watch when Troy has the ball: Their pass game has been a mixed bag so far this year. They’ve had some big plays but two weeks in a row they missed sure touchdowns due to their timing just being a little off. Their running game will always be there but if they want to reach their potential as a team they will need to connect on those scoring opportunities through the pass.

What to watch when NP-Mansfield has the ball: How the Trojans handle the pass. Canton picked Troy apart late in the Old Shoe to rally for the win and NP-Mansfield’s quarterback Colton Litzelman can do that, too, if given the time. The Panthers have the experience and athletes to execute on that end so Troy will have to be ready.


Players to watch: Chase Robert, Troy, FB/LB - He was in the Towanda backfield all game long last week and is a sure handed tackler as they come. NP-Mansfield has a fair share of athletes - Litzelman, Kohen Lehman and Bryan Bogaczyk - that Robert will be called upon to keep in check.

Brandon Thompson, NPM, TE - At 6-foot, 7-inches Thompson can be a match-up nightmare for teams. Troy did well against Ben Knapp in week one but he still made plays that helped them win the game. Thompson has that same type of big play capability that could make a mark on the game.




You've asked about helping ...
here's your chance. Click HERE