NTL FOOTBALL: TROY RUNS PAST WYALUSING (2021-10-23)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
TROY — It didn’t matter who carried the football for Troy on Friday, there was only one direction they were going - forward. The Trojans for 299 yards behind 10 different ball carriers to pull away from Wyalusing 48-8 in NTL football action Friday.

“It felt good that we were much more clean this week than we were a week ago,” Troy coach Jimmy Smith said. “A good effort on both sides of the ball, and I was proud of the younger kids tonight. They came out, and played a whole half with their starting group, and they did a good job.”

Damien Landon led the way for Troy, running for 125 yards on 12 carries and one score, despite not getting a carry until their fifth drive of the game. Gavin Cohick had 101-yards rushing and two touchdowns on eight carries - all in the first half - while youngsters Cody Johnston (69-yards, one touchdown) and Charles Oldroyd (65-yards, one touchdown) impressed as well.

Even back-up quarterback, freshman Evan Woodward, showed the future is bright in Troy as he ran for 45-yards and a touchdown, while also throwing for a 25-yard score to Jayden Renzo.

“It’s been a work in progress with the depth,” said Smith. “You don’ have much to start, but these young guys are getting better and better. It’s exciting, because you can have confidence when the next guy goes in.”

Wyalusing continued to struggle with injuries - they were without their starting quarterback, Blake Morningstar, among others - and suited up just 19 players.

They had their bright spots, too, though, as Jordan Lamb, who is coming off an injury, had two catches for 11 yards, and played well defensively.

Back-up quarterback Cade McMicken was 3-for-11 for 31-yards and an interception, but also had his team’s lone touchdown, a 2-yard run up the gut.

The Rams, though, found it tough sledding, especially in the first half, when they were held to negative-36 yards rushing and without a first down.

Troy took the opening kick-off and began at their own 47-yard line, going 53-yards in seven plays for the game’s first score, a 3-yard third-down run by Cohick. Cohick ran the ball four times for 36 yards on the drive.

Justice Chimics’ extra point was good, and Troy led 7-0 just under three minutes into the contest.

They would onside kick it, and recover, setting themselves up at the 50-yard line. This time, though, the drive would come an abrupt end, as on fourth-and-4 a Cohick fumble was recovered by Wyalusing.

The Rams, though, only went backwards, and were forced to punt. On the first play of Troy’s next drive a bobbled hand-off ended up in the hands of Wyalusing’s Caleb Eberlin. The linebacker had a whole lot of green in front of him, and he returned it 33-yards down to the 17-yard line.

Wyalusing, though, would turn it over, as on fourth down Jackson Taylor picked off a McMicken pass.

Troy was deep in their own territory at the 12-yard line, but a 28-yard first down run by Johnston got them up near midfield. Two plays later Cohick finished off the 3-play, 88-yard scoring drive with a 56-yard romp down the right side off the field. The point after was no good, but Troy led 13-0 with a minute to play in the first quarter.

The Rams would go 3-and-out again, giving Troy the ball at their own 37-yard line. That’s when the Trojans dusted off Landon, who promptly started things with an 11-yard run. All told, he would run the ball three times for 23 yards on the drive, but it was Johnston getting the 15-yard scoring run up the gut to finish off the 6-play, 57-yard possession. The 2-point conversion was no good, but it was 19-0 Trojans with 9:36 left on the clock.

Troy would only need two plays to score on their next drive, which began the Ram 35-yard line after another punt.

It was all Landon, as he began things with a 20-yard run, then followed that up with a 15-yard scoring run. Troy went for two, with Chimics hitting Taylor to make it 27-0.

The final scoring drive of the quarter for the Trojans began at Wyalusing’s 36-yard line after they turned it over on downs.

A 9-yard run by Landon gave it a good start, but Wyalusing would sack Chimics for a 20-yard loss to set up third-and-21. 

Oldroyd got 19 of those yards back, with Landon getting an 18-yard gain on fourth-and-2 to set up a first and goal. Three plays later Oldroyd punched it in for a 5-yard scoring run to finish off the 7-play drive. 

Chimics hit Cohick for the 2-point conversion and it was 35-0 at the half.

The Rams got the ball to start the second half, and, even though they didn’t get a first down, they did have three straight plays of positive yardage.

After a Wyalusing punt pinned Troy down at their own 22-yard line, the Trojans went on a 6-play, 78 yard scoring drive. Landon had 32-yard rushing on three carries, but it was Woodward who stole the show. He had a 13-yard run on third-and-five to set up a 25-yard touchdown toss to Renzo, who came down with the jump ball. The extra point was no good, but it was 41-0 with 5:32 left in the third quarter.

The Rams would turn it over on downs on their next drive, giving the Trojans a short field. Starting at their 36-yard line, Woodward needed just two plays to score - a 28-yard run to inside the 10, then a 4-yard punch into the end zone - to make it 48-0 after Chimics’ extra point.

Wyalusing would show signs of line offensively on their next drive, picking up a first down on a 9-yard Ayden Hunsinger run. The drive would end on a turnover, but it would lead to better things on their final drive of the game.

Starting at the Trojan 45-yard line, the Rams would go 11 plays to pay dirt, with ending with McMicken’s 2-yard plunge on third-and-goal. Oswald started things off with a 17-yard run.

An offensive pass interference call nearly derailed them, but on fourth down McMicken hit Oswald for a 22-yard gain to keep the chains moving. Three runs by Lamb for seven yards, and two by Hunsinger for three set up the McMicken scoring run.

Hunsinger ran in the 2-point conversion for the 48-8 final.

Both teams move onto their rivalry games next week - Wyalusing hosts Towanda for the Bronze Helmet, while Troy travels to Canton for the Old Shoe.

There’s more than just the Old Shoe on the line in Canton, though, as the NTL Division-I title with be decided. Both Troy and Canton are undefeated in the league - the Warriors are unbeaten on the season overall - and it should be another good one between the rivals.

“We have our work cut out for us next week, when we play, maybe, the best team on our schedule,” said Smith. “Two good football teams going at it, it should be a classic a week from now.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Troy’s Cody Johnston runs in for a touchdown…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

TROY 48, WYALUSING 8

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

T - Gavin Cohick 3-yard run (Justice Chimics kick), 9:05

T - Cohick 56-yard run (kick failed), 1:00

Second Quarter

T - Cody Johnston 29-yard run (2-point no good), 9:36

T - Damien Landon 15-yard run (Jackson Taylor reception from Chimics), 7:58

T - Charles Oldroyd 5-yard run (Cohick pass from Chimics), 2:11

Third Quarter

T - Evan Woodward 25-yard pass to Jayden Renzo (kick failed), 5:32

T - Woodward 4-yard run (Chimics kick), 2:43

Fourth Quarter

W - Cade McMicken 2-yard run (Ayden Hunsinger run), 1:24

Individual Stats

Wyalusing

Passing

Cade McMicken 4-11-31-0-1

Rushing

Ayden Hunsinger 17-4, Cade McMicken 3-(-4)-1, Nolan Oswald 5-14, Jordan Lamb 6-12

Receiving

Jordan Lamb 2-11, Nolan Oswald 2-20

Troy

Passing

Justice Chimics 1-4-12-0-0, Evan Woodward 1-1-25-1-0, Joe Frye 1-2-3

Rushing

Damien Landon 12-125-1, Gavin Cohick 8-101-2, Charles Oldroyd 10-65-1, Cody Johnston 4-69-1, Justice Chimics 3-(-17), Evan Woodward 3-45-1, Joe Frye 4-(-4), Carter Austin 1-0, Jacob Hinman 1-2, Jack Burbidge 1-0

Receiving 

Jayden Renzo 1-25-1, Jackson Taylor 1-12, Camryn Harwick 1-3

Team Stats

      Wyalusing Troy

Rushes/Yards         31/19 48/299

Passing Yards         31 40

First Downs 3 16

Penalties/Yards 4/29 7/37

Fumbles/Lost        2/2 4/2

Interceptions: Troy - Jackson Taylor