NTL FOOTBALL: TROY EXCITED TO FACE OFF AGAINST RIVERSIDE CLOSE TO HOME (2024-11-28)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It’s now down to the final four with Troy taking on Riverside in Towanda at 7 p.m. on Friday with a trip to the PIAA, Class AA Football Championship Game on the line.

“I’m really excited,” said Mason Smith. “It’s the first time Troy’s ever done it, and to be so close to home is really nice. I think we’ll have a really good fan base there.”

After having to go an hour and a half for their last state game, 20 minutes down the road is practically a home game for the Trojans.

“I think it’s a very good opportunity,” Mason said. “We can take advantage of that with all the fans there, and I think it could be on our side a lot.”

The Trojans pulled away from Bedford, 42-16, in the quarterfinals, while Riverside used seven turnovers to hold on and beat Williams Valley, 28-21, in the other quarterfinal.

“You look in previous films and they’re a defense that’s won the takeaway battle here the last couple of games,” said Troy coach Jim Smith. “They’re very opportunistic, they’re very fundamental, hard hitting. They’re ball hawks and we’re going to have to really focus on our ball security this week.”

Troy ran for over 300-yards last week and come in with two runners over 800-yards for the season - Brendan Gilliland (98 carries, 1,246-yards, 23 touchdowns) and Evan Woodward (52 carries, 803-yards, 11 touchdowns). 

They also boast two other backs with over 400-yards - Kael Millard (68 carries, 528-yards, seven touchdown) and Mason Smith (35 carries, 426-yards, five touchdowns).

Through the air Woodward has a 69-percent completion percentage for 1,597-yards, 20 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Lincoln Chimics is leading the way with 31 catches for 788-yards and 10 touchdowns, while Mason Smith had 15 catches for 299-yards and four scores, and Joseph Frye had 13 catches for 258-yards, and three touchdowns.

They’ll be facing a defense they haven’t really seen all year, except in practice.

“They’ve had success in their past games on the defensive side, and they run a defensive scheme pretty similar to ours, so we’ll be playing against that for one of the first times this year,” Avery Sens said. 

That should help them run their scout defense well enough to prepare for Riverside.

“I can sort of get a first hand experience on what their team might run for certain plays,” Sens said.

They also know ball security will be especially important.

“We’ve really been focusing on keeping two hands on the ball,” remarked coach Smith.

Offensively they rely quite a bit on quarterback Chase Taddonio. He has 68 carries for 906-yards and 14 scores, while through the air he has a 55-percent completion rating for 1,946-yards with 28 touchdowns against three picks.

“He’s a very crafty kid,” coach Smith said. “He makes good decisions, he’s a physical kid, and we certainly can’t have him have a good day. We have to shut him down.”

Richie Kostoff also gets the ball quite a bit, getting 68 carries for 473-yards and four touchdowns, while hauling in 47 catches for 684-yards, and 10 scores.

Gerry Rose has 25 receptions for 450-yards and seven touchdowns, while Brayden Rose has hauled in 17 passes for 317-yards and four scores.

They like throw a lot of gadget plays against a defense, so Troy’s defense will have to be disciplined.

“They’re formation heavy, and they move you around with a lot of shifts and motions, and different things like that to try to get you out of position,” said coach Smith. “The big thing is just mental preparedness for all of their moving around of people, so we align correctly.”

Troy is hoping to get a big turnout, not just of their own fans, but from across Bradford County.

“I feel like we’re representing not only Troy, but the rest of the league in this game,” coach Smith said. “To have it being played in the NTL makes it more special.”

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