NTL FOOTBALL: TROY RALLIES PAST NP-MANSFIELD FOR WIN (5 PHOTOS) (2020-09-25)

Northern Tier Sports Report
BLOSSBURG — Being down at the half, it was Troy’s turn to rally for a win.

The Trojans out scored NP-Mansfield 22-7 in the second half to win 34-21 in NTL football action Friday. The Panthers led 14-12 at the break.

“It was a great team we had to play, great coaching,” said Troy’s Mason Imbt. “We played very well in my opinion against a great team.”

After winning against Towanda last week, the Trojans continued to take the season one game at a time and focused on NP-Mansfield this week.

“We just talked a lot about one more and that got the kids going a lot,” remarked Imbt.

They rushed for more than 300 yards as Caleb Binford led the way with 201 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries. Damien Landon was right behind him with 110 yards and a score on 23 carries.

Dom Ayers was efficient, going 5-for-6 for 92 yards and a touchdown. Ridge Spencer was his top target with four catches for 86 yards.

NPM got some offensive traction through the air as Colton Litzelman was 18-for-26 for 190 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. 

Four different receivers caught passes led by Noah Spencer’s 60 yards on two catches. Koleton Roupp had seven catches for 44 yards, Brandon Thompson had three catches for 36 yards and a score and Kohen Lehman had a 31 yard touchdown catch.

It was tough sledding for NPM on the ground as they managed just 34 total yards. Bryan Bogaczyk had eight carries for 11 yards and a touchdown.

NPM struck first as, after forcing Troy to turn it over on downs, Litzelman hit Spencer for a 28-yard gain to set up first-and-goal. The Trojans held for three downs, but on the fourth Bogaczyk punched it in. The PAT was good and the Panthers led 7-0 with 8:21 left in the quarter.

Troy’s ensuing drive ended in a punt and NPM wasted little time to get back on the scoreboard. Starting at the 50-yard line, it took them five plays as, on second-and-1 Litzelman found Lohman for a 31-yard passing touchdown. The PAT was good and NPM extended its lead to 14-0.

Troy responded on its next drive as, on the first play from scrimmage, Binford rushed for 14 yards. Thee plays later, on third-and-6, Ayers hit Spencer for a first down to get to midfield.

The big play came two plays after that as Binford ran 49 yards to paydirt to finish off the 6-play, 75-yard scoring drive. The PAT was blocked, but Troy was on the board to end the first quarter.

Three drives came-and-went with no scoring until midway through the second quarter when the Trojans got the ball back.

Starting at the NPM 37-yard line, Troy would go 10 plays to score on a Binford 1-yard plunge. The key play was a 5-yard run from Binford on 4th-and-3 to keep the drive alive.

The 2-point conversion was no good, but Troy cut it to 14-12 with 2:08 left in the half.

The Trojans would come out of the break with that score as NPM ended the first drive of the second half with a punt.

Troy took over on its own 45-yard line, but would score in eight plays to take the lead. A 9-yard run by Landon on the second play from scrimmage got them across midfield. 

On 4th-and-1, Ayers punched through for a first down. That set up a 31-yard Binford run for the touchdown on the next play. He punched in the 2-point conversion and Troy now led 20-14 with 6:55 left in the third.

They would get the onside kick on the kickoff but turned it over on downs.

It was North Penn’s turn to put on a long scoring drive, going over 80 yards on 13 plays to the end zone when Litzelman hit Thompson for the 8-yard score.

The kick was good and NPM was back on top 21-20 with 7.4 seconds left in the quarter.

Troy wasted little time in responding as, on their ensuing drive, Ayers hit Spencer for a 71-yard scoring play. Binford punched in the 2-point conversion and Troy was back on top 28-21 with 11:48 left in the game.

Troy forced the Panthers to punt on their next drive. Getting the ball back the Trojans did what they do best — run the ball.

Starting at their own 48-yard line, they used five straight runs, ending with a Binford 28-yard touchdown, to go up 34-21 with 7:43 left to play.

The defense did the rest as NPM’s final two possessions ended with a punt and a lost fumble.

Troy improves to 2-1 and will travel to Wellsboro next week while the Panthers fall to 1-1.

CUTLINE: Troy's Caleb Binford looks for running room against NP-Mansfield...PHOTOS PROVIDED.