BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
TROY — All of Troy’s big play weapons were on display in their 43-7 win over South Williamsport in NTL football action Friday - Mason Smith, Brendan Gilliland, Evan Woodward, Joseph Frye, and…Kael Millard.
Yep, nobody usually thinks of the fullback as a big play threat, but Millard proved that wrong against the Mounties, leading the team with 75 yards on five carries, including a 37-yard touchdown run where he steam rolled a pair of would be tacklers.
“He did have a nice day,” said Troy coach Jim Smith. “He’s a big, physical kid, and it’s important that teams have to key on a guy like him. They have to decide whether they’re going to fill right now, or hold for the potential pitch. I think him showing that just goes to show that you better decide you’re going to commit on him, or he’s going to run you over, and that’s going to help us moving forward.”
For Millard, being named up there with their other playmakers felt special, though he gave all the credit to his linemen.
“Our line, they did a tremendous job tonight,” Millard said. “I couldn’t have done it without the rest of my teammates out there.”
It was Mason Smith, though, setting the tone as he scored the first three of Troy’s touchdowns, two of them off punt returns.
“He’s a bit of a cheat button for us,” said coach Smith. “He is really athletic, and his vision is second to none on our team. He’s just growing up around it, and we’re just blessed to have him.”
Smith finished with two carries for 35-yards, two catches for 31-yards and a score, and a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown, followed by a 60-yard punt return for a score.
Evan Woodward was 5-for-10 for 92 yards with two touchdowns and a pick from the pocket, while running for 42-yards on two carries, while Gilliland had a 45-yard touchdown reception.
Frye had two catches for 16-yards while pulling off a 17-yard run. JB Burbage added a touchdown run, while kicker Gavin Lykon-Leffler hit a field goal.
“We weren’t perfectly clean, we did have some penalties and things that we have to clean up,” said Smith. “But, certainly, one of our worries was a letdown after a big win last week, and this being a totally polar opposite type game. You’re dealing with power football, old school football, and we haven’t really seen that - you’re curious about your team as to whether they can step up and stop the run, and I was really, really happy we were able to do that. This is one of the better programs in the state over the last 10 yards, and they’re a great, great coaching staff and team, with a good bunch of players, and they’ll bounce back.”
South was able to pound the ball for eight first downs in the game while being limited to just 119-yards on 28 carries. Jayden Hamm led the way with 57-yards on 15 touches, while Cade Lusk had the 26-yard touchdown run during the running clock.
Tad Lusk was just 6-for-15 for 93 yards with two picks, with all-state receiver Dylan Scheller hauling in all six completions for 93-yards.
South was their own worst enemy at times, though, turnover it over five times in the game. Spencer Martin and Lucas Norton had interceptions for Troy, as Smith, Burbage, and Jayden Kutt had fumble recoveries.
Troy took the opening kick-off and went 57-yards on seven plays to pay dirt. South appeared to stall them out inside the red zone, but on 4th-and-9 from the 15 Woodward hit Smith in the flat, and he used a couple downfield blocks to get to the end zone for the first score of the game. Lykon-Leffler’s kick was good and Troy led 7-0 with 8:14 on the clock.
South would go 3-and-out and punt away to Smith. He picked it up off the bounce, ran across the field from left to right, then cut back left as he went 61-yards to the end zone. The point after was no good but Troy led 13-0 with 6:15 left to play in the opening frame.
The Mounties had another 3-and-out and again kicked it to Smith. He went right again, but this time he stayed right, going down the sideline for a 60-yard score. The point after was no good as Troy led 19-0 with 4:23 to play.
On South’s third drive they were able to get some yards, and momentum, but it was stopped abruptly has Martin hauled in an interception.
Troy took over at the Mountie 49-yard line. A false start on the opening play backed them up five yards, but it didn’t matter as they went 54-yards on four plays, scoring on another big fourth day play as Woodward hit Gilliland in the flat for a 45-yard touchdown. Lykon-Leffler’s kick was good and the trojans led 26-0 with 8:50 left in the first half.
Another promising South drive ended in a turnover as they fumbled it away at mid-field, only to be picked up by Smith.
The Trojans once again opened up the drive with a false start, but after that went 70-yards on three plays to the end zone.
A pass interference call would set up Millard’s 37-yard scoring run right up the gut. Lykon-Leffler’s kick was good and Troy now led 33-0 with 3:16 left to play in the half.
The Mounties punted away after three downs on their next possession, and it looked like Troy was going to put it into the mercy rule at the half.
A 25-yard Woodward run got them to the Mountie 30-yard line, but on the following play his pass was tipped and picked off by Dalton Johnson.
South, though, gave it right back, fumbling it away to Burbage, as Troy took over at the Mountie 43-yard line with 1:31 left to play in the second quarter.
A 9-yard Millard run, an 8-yard pass from Woodward to Frye, and a 16-yard strike from Woodward to Smith got Troy down to the Mountie 5-yard line.
However, two false start penalties backed them right up. The South defense would hold enough to force a 4th-and-goal from the three, and Troy elected to kick.
Lykon-Leffler’s 20-yard field goal would have been good enough from double that distance as the Trojans went into the half up 36-0.
During the third South would turn it over on downs on their first drive, but Troy would fumble it away. Kutt got the ball back on a fumble recovery of his own at the Mountie 3-yard line.
Two plays later Burbage punched it one from a yard out, with Lykon-Leffler adding the kick for a 43-0 lead with 5:04 on the clock.
South would eventually score two possessions later as Troy began getting some subs in. Back to back completions of Tad Lusk to Scheller set up a Cade Lusk 26-yard run up the gut to pay dirt. The extra point was good and South prevented the shut out, making it 43-7 with 9:46 left to play.
The Trojans return home on Saturday as they welcome their first divisional opponent of the season, Athens (1-1) with a 7 p.m. start.
“We’ve got to take a look at ourselves, and, to be honest, 90-percent of what we do is focusing on us,” said Smith. “We’re going to look at our opponent, we’re going to show them where to align, and that’s half the battle. Some of the stuff that worries that we have to take away we’ll decide on the kind of things we can’t give up for them to beat us. Then from there we just focus on our own execution.”
TROY 43, S. WILLIAMSPORT 7
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
T: Evan Woodward 15-yard pass to Mason Smith (Gavin Lykon-Leffler kick), 8:14
T: Mason Smith 61-yard punt return (Kick no good), 6:15
T: Mason Smith 60-yard punt return (Kick no good), 4:23
Second Quarter
T: Evan Woodward 45-yard pass to Brendan Gilliland (Lykon-Leffler kick), 8:50
T: Kael Millard 37-yard run (Lykon-Leffler kick), 3:16
T: Gavin Lykon Leffler 20-yard field goal, :00
Third Quarter
T: JB Burbage 1-yard run (Lykon Leffler kick), 5:04
Fourth Quarter
S: Cade Lusk 26-yard run (Kick good), 9:46
Individual Stats
South Williamsport
Passing
Tad Lusk 6-15-93-0-2
Rushing
Jayden Hamm 15-57, Cade Lusk 5-26-1, Eli White 6-18, Tad Lusk 1-11, Dylan Scheller 1-7
Receiving
Dylan Scheller 6-93
Troy
Passing
Evan Woodward 5-10-92-2-1, Spencer Martin 0-1-0-0-0
Rushing
Kael Millard 5-75-1, Mason Smith 2-35, Brendan Gilliland 3-7, Evan Woodward 2-42, Joseph Frye 1-17, JB Burbage 1-1-1, Reed Palmer 1-7, Jayden Kutt 3-6, Garret Parks 5-13, Evan Allen 3-13
Receiving
Mason Smith 2-31-1, Brendan Gilliland 1-45-1, Joseph Frye 2-16
Team Stats SW Troy
Rushes/Yards 28/119 30/210
Passing Yards 93 92
First Downs 8 13
Penalties/Yards 3/35 7/35
Fumbles/Lost 4/3 3/1
Interceptions: South Williamsport (Caleb Johnson), Troy (Spencer Martin, Lucas Norton)
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
