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NTL FOOTBALL: TROY PULLS AWAY FROM WARRIOR RUN TO CLAIM FIRST DISTRICT TITLE IN 11 YEARS (2024-11-16)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
MANSFIELD — Troy overcame a slow start, for them, to pull away from Warrior Run, 59-14, to claim the District IV, Class AA Football title on Friday, their program’s third title, and their second in 11 years.

“It’s very exciting,” said quarterback Evan Woodward. “This is one of the goals that we had at the beginning of the season, but we’ve got to keep moving forward.”

They’d had this date circled since their loss to Southern Columbia in the district final last year.

“It’s just we were hungry for it, and we got it tonight,” Mason Smith remarked.

The Trojans did it in typical Troy fashion, using a mix of option and power running to amass 525 yards on the ground off 37 carries, and being an efficient through the air.

“That feels really good,” center Avery Sens said about putting those rushing numbers. “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without all five guys up front. We were able to get pushes all night, and it helped us execute greatly.”

While on defense they were stingy all night long, holding Warrior Run to just 187 total yards, much of that coming in the mercy rule fourth quarter.

“They were a new challenge, and they were averaging 34 points a game,” Troy coach Jim Smith said about the Defenders. “They have kids who can make plays, and athletes that were explosive.”

Early on Warrior Run did what they had to keep the game close - kept the ball out of Troy’s returners, didn’t commit many mistakes, took advantage of Troy’s mistakes - which kept in the game after the first quarter, down 12-7.

“I’m exactly sure what it was but we were playing a little tense within ourselves, and kind of beating ourselves there,” said Woodward.

And Troy wasn’t firing on all cylinders like the previous week against Southern Columbia. They had nine penalties on the day for 85-yards, turned it over in Warrior Run territory, and a pair of long scoring runs from Woodward peppered over a slow start to their ground game.

However, after a Lincoln Chimics pick halfway through the second quarter Troy turned it on and never looked back, scoring 33 straight points to put the game into mercy rule after the third quarter.

“It’s been a long time coming, and this is one of the games I looked forward to since I was a kid,” said Brendan Gilliland. “It’s awesome to win.”

Woodward (nine carries, 197-yards, two touchdowns) and Gilliland (13 carries, 188-yards, three touchdowns) both flirted with 200 yard games, while Kael Millard (eight carries, 70-yards), Spencer Martin (two carries, 50-yards), and JB Burbage all had touchdown runs.

“It’s really cool, and I’m proud of everybody,” Gilliland said about their rushing effort. “Our line did well, and everybody played well, it was awesome.”

Woodward was 5-for-7 for 87-yards through the air, with a touchdown pass to Mason Smith. Smith finished with 62-yards on three catches while Reed Palmer had 24-yards receiving on one catch.

Eli Butler had 47-yards rushing and a score on 13 carries to lead the Defenders, with James Keifer going 13-for-26 for 118-yards, one score, and three picks from the pocket.

Samuel Hall was his top target, hauling in eight catches for 100-yards and a touchdown.

“We really shut them down,” Coach Smith said about Warrior Run. “I’m really proud, defense does win championships, so when all else fails, if your defense stands up, they can’t score, they can’t win.”

Troy took the opening kick-off and, after a couple of short yardage plays, saw Woodward call his own number on the option on third-and-7, going 75-yards up the middle untouched for the first score of the game.

“It was the same thing as last week,” explained Woodward. “I just saw a big hole. My linemen got to their assignments, and I happened to make the right read, and I ran as fast as I could.”

Troy’s defense forced a Warrior Run 3-and-out, this time taking over at their own 20-yard line.

It was tough sledding early, with the Trojans gaining just three yards off the first two plays. An 11-yard pass from Woodward to Smith got them a new set of downs at the 34-yard line.

On the next play from scrimmage Woodward called his own number on the option again, this time going and taking it 66-yards to the house.

Warrior Run stopped the 2-point conversion at the goal line but the Trojans led 12-0 with 6:53 left in the opening quarter.

“He’s just a leader,” Smith said about Woodward. “We haven’t had to use him all year, and it’s been a blessing, but when it comes down to it, and we need a play, I call him the Tom Brady of Troy football. He just doesn’t make too many mistakes, and he knows everything’s that going on. He gives us a chance to make big plays, and we’ve been fortunate not to have to run a lot of our option stuff until now, and it’s really paying off because I don’t think teams are very well prepared for it.”

On the ensuing kick-off Warrior Run got a big return by Maxwell Fogelman down to the Troy 36-yard line.

A pass interference call on third-and-long put the Defenders inside the 19-yard line, then, for plays later, on fourth-and-short, they got the Trojans to jump.

On the ensuing play, first-and-goal from the seven, Butler took the pitch left and found pay dirt, while Gavin Hunter’s extra point cut the lead to 12-7 with 2:23 left in the opening frame.

Warrior Run then got a turnover on Troy’s next drive, but the Trojans defense forced a 3-and-out.

Troy’s ensuing drive saw them get to the 50-yard line only to fizzle out due to back to back penalties.

Starting at their own 20-yard line, though, the Defenders had a turnover of their own, as Keifer’s pass towards the sidelines was snatched by Chimics.

It was a momentum grabber for the Trojans as they took over at the Defender 28-yard line.

“After that interception we knew we weren’t going to let them score again,” Mason Smith said. “That big defensive stop just really got us going.”

Troy need just four plays to get into the end zone, led by Gilliland, who ran the ball three times for 27-yards, finishing things off with a 9-yard touchdown run off a pitch left.

The 2-point conversion failed but Troy led 18-7 with 6:58 left in the half.

After another Warrior Run 3-and-out Troy took over at their own 36-yard line.

Right off the bat Gilliland went 30 yards over the right side, while three plays later Millard kept the driving going by picking up a first down on third-and-two.

Three plays after that Gilliland finished off the seven play drive with a 19-yard run on an option pitch left. Gavin Lykon-Leffler hit the extra point to make it 25-7 at the half.

It was during those two second quarter scoring drives that Troy’s offense began to feel the Warrior Run defense break.

“It calms the nerves that we had from the excitement from the game,” said Sens. “It just calmed everything and allowed us to play our game.”

The Defenders didn’t go away, though, putting together a solid drive to start the third.

They used a fake punt on 4th-and-3 from their own 27-yard to get a new set of downs near midfield.

They chipped away, getting down inside the Troy 30-yard line, but Mason Smith put an end to that with an interception.

Taking over at their own 18-yard line Troy got a 24-yard pass play from Woodward to Palmer on the second play from scrimmage to get up near midfield.

Two plays later Woodward once against found room on the option, running 36-yards to down inside the Defender 20.

A 14-yard run by Gilliland followed for first and goal, with Millard punching it in from 4-yards out, finishing off the six play scoring drive.

Lykon-Leffler added the point after and it was 32-7ths with 6:24 left in the third.

Warrior Run’s ensuing drive ended with a fumble recovery by Easton Teribury, which was caused by Sens.

Troy took over at the Defender 35-yard line, but a personal foul sent them back to their own 49.

No matter, they drew up one of their standard pass plays, with Woodward rolling right then throwing back left to Smith for a 51-yard touchdown strike.

“That play is basically designed for me to be wide open like that,” Mason Smith said. “I just ran it like I normally do. They kind of did pick it out, there was a guy trailing me, but it worked.”

Lykon-Leffler’s kick was good and Troy pushed their lead to 39-7 with 3:31 left in the third.

After another Warrior Run punt Troy took over at their own 32, and immediately got first and goal as Millard took an inside hand-off and snuck through the front line for a 59-yard gain to the Defender 9-yard line.

Two plays later Burbage punched it in from five yards out with 1.9 seconds left in the third. The extra point attempt hold was fumbled, but the Trojans still led 45-7, putting the game into the mercy rule.

Early in the fourth Keifer found Hall for a 43-yard scoring strike on 4th-and-7.

Troy would respond with a 47-yard Gilliland run to make it 52-14 after Lykon-Leffler’s kick.

The final touchdown came with 3:20 on the clock as Martin snuck out of a pile and out ran the Warrior Run defense 46-yards to pay dirt for the 59-14 after Lykon-Leffler’s kick.

Troy will now face Bedford, who upset Steel-High 24-15 in their first round state game. The place, time, and date have yet to be determined.

Despite earning just their third district title in program history Smith feels his team isn’t done, and plans on another quick turnaround going into next week.

“We’ve done a really good job every week not overlooking anybody,” Smith said. “We sit down as a staff and look things over, and come up with tendencies. We don’t look ahead to the next week, and just sort of take it one step at a time. It’s a long journey, and it’s easy to stumble if you’re looking head, or you’re not paying attention. The kids have done a really good job staying focused week in and week out with the challenge they’re facing. This week, we’re going to celebrate the heck out of this just for the weekend, but come Sunday, we’re going to get back to work.”

TROY 59, WARRIOR RUN 14

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

T: Evan Woodward 75-yard run (kick blocked), 10:21

T: Evan Woodward 66-yard run (run failed), 6:53

W: Eli Butler 7-yard run (Gavin Hunter kick), 2:23

Second Quarter

T: Brendan Gilliland 9-yard run (pass failed), 6:58

T: Brendan Gilliland 19-yard run (Gavin Lykon-Leffler kick), 2:01

Third Quarter

T: Kael Millard 4-yard run (Lykon-Leffler kick), 6:24

T: Evan Woodward 51-yard pass to Mason Smith (Lykon-Leffler kick), 3:31