NTL FOOTBALL: TROY READY TO FACE DISTRICT V CHAMPION BEDFORD IN STATE QUARTERS (2024-11-21)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Troy football has made it to the Elite 8 in the state and will start getting into inter-district play, beginning with District V champion Bedford on Friday at Lock Haven University with a 7 p.m. kick-off.

“It feels great,” said Lincoln Chimics. “We were in this spot for basketball last year, and we came up short, hopefully we can go further.”

“It’s been a goal of ours, and to see the kids achieve that goal, and give them an opportunity to keep playing is really exciting,” added Troy coach Jim Smith.

The Trojans have been an offensive juggernaut, averaging 54.4 points per game this season, upping that to 63.7 points per game in their three district playoff wins.

Now they’ll take that offense up against a Bedford team that has given up just 8.3 points per game in their three playoff wins: 27-10 over Chestnut Ridge, 18-0 over Berlin Brothersvalley, and 24-15 against District III champion Steel-High.

“I think it’s fun, it’s going to be a fun time to go out there,” said Troy’s Jack Burbage. “We’ve just got to stay on the path that we’re on, we’ve got to keep playing for a state championship.”

It’ll be a bit of a contrast of styles going into the contest as Troy are the big hitters, and Bedford likes to slow the game down, and run clock.

“We talk to the kids a lot about making sure that the lights aren’t too bright for a situation like this,” Smith said. “To believe that we’re supposed to be here, so we can just play loose and free. I think we were a little tight one week ago, and we got that monkey off our back in another district championship, and everything from here on out is really icing on the cake. If the kids are playing free and fast we’ve got a great chance to win.”

Quincy Swaim is the heart and soul of the Bisons’ offense with over 2700 yards of total offense between the pocket and rushing the ball. He has 885 yards passing with six touchdowns, and five picks on a 46-percent completion rating, while on the ground he has 1,804 yards and 22 scores on 276 carries.

“He’s a great athlete, he’s very durable, he’s very smart,” Smith said. “They’re a run first team, they like to control the clock, and so we’re going to have to step it up to make some stops, or it could be a long night.”

The next closes rusher on the team has 219 yards, showing how much the Bisons rely on Swaim.

“They put the ball around him,” Burbage said. “We’ve got to flow to the ball, with a lot of people running to the ball, and making tackles.”

Smith compared him to Towanda’s Riley Vanderpool, who also had over 2,000 yards between the air and ground.

“We’ve seen lots of people like this,” Burbage said. “We know what we’ve got to do, we’ve just got to come out and actually do it.”

Over half of the team’s receiving yards belong to Owen Tedrow, who has 506 yards and four touchdowns on 23 receptions coming into this game. Chimics will likely be taking on this challenge.

“I’ve followed many receivers around all year, I’ve just got to stay with my assignment,” remarked Chimics. “Do what I know I’m capable of, and I think it’ll all work out.”

Last week’s 500 yard performance on the ground against Warrior took Troy up to 3,992 yards on the ground so far this season, led by Brendan Gilliland’s 1,134 yards and 21 touchdowns on 85 carries. Evan Woodward has 704 yards and nine touchdowns on 45 carries.

Through the air Woodward has a 141.7 QB rating with 1,541 yards passing and 20 touchdowns against two interceptions with a 67-percent completion rate.

Chimics leads the team in receiving with 756 yards and nine scores off 28 receptions.

“We’re not rally changing up a whole lot,” Smith said about their offense. “We’re emphasizing the important of ball security as the weather gets bad, and it’s cold. The team that makes the fewest mistakes normally wins, and we tried to hit that home this week.”

That’s also not to mention other weapons, such as Mason Smith (1,234 yards between rushing, receiving, punt returns, and kick-off returns), giving Troy plenty of versatility.

“I bet it’s very hard to game plan for when we’re all contributing,” Chimics said. “It just opens up everything.”

One area they’re hoping to get some production is in the kick and punt return game. After they had two kick returns for touchdowns against Southern Columbia Warrior Run did a good job on special teams last week to keep the ball out of the hands of Troy’s play makers.

“I’m always excited when teams do kick deep to any three of us,” Chimics said. “I think our actions speak louder than any words can say on what happens if they do.”

Due to inclement weather the game could be moved to Saturday, but Friday or Saturday, Troy is ready to go further than any other Trojan football team has gone before.

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