High School Fridays: X Marks The Spot (Troy @ LaSalle, 9/6/19)

Rare is the time when a high school football game, even on opening night, spills out over three hours.

Yes, you read that right. Three. Hours.

The Collar City Cup was on the line as Troy High sought to retain the Cup in their season opener at LaSalle Institute. After a narrow escape last year at home, the Flying Horses, beginning their fifth season with Bob Burns as head coach, wanted no part of starting the season 0-1, as they did last year. John Audino, in his 2nd season at LaSalle, wanted to get his Cadets off to a fast start.

Well, at least someone's wish was granted.

LaSalle won the coin toss, and took the opening kickoff. After an offsides penalty on Troy, LaSalle QB Bo Catherwood, a transfer from Tamarac, sliced through the defense, and raced 76 yards untouched into the end zone. Mike Tobin added the extra point, and less than 30 seconds into the game, LaSalle led, 7-0.

Back came Troy. On their opening possession, QB Alex (Hungry Like The) Wolfe hit Nasir Dawud-Soto with a 14 yard touchdown catch. Thanks to an ill-timed LaSalle penalty, Troy opted for the 2 point conversion, and Xavier Leigh cashed in to give Troy a brief 8-7 lead.

Brief because on LaSalle's next offensive play, Traydon Lawrence, another transfer, this one from Green Tech, took advantage of his offensive line blowing open the door, and scampered 68 yards to paydirt. However, the 2 point conversion failed, and LaSalle led, 13-8, at the end of the frame. Troy was on the march at the end of the quarter, and just six seconds into the second quarter, took the lead for good, as Leigh scored from 11 yards out. New Troy kicker Jonah Griswold's PAT was low, and wide left, leaving the score at 14-13 in favor of Troy.

Seven minutes later, Leigh found the end zone again, this time from 25 yards after back to back penalties took Troy from first & goal to fourth and goal from the 25. Again, the 2 point conversion failed, and Troy took a 20-13 lead into the break.

There was so much dirty laundry on the carpet in the first half with all the penalties, you'd swear LaSalle had planned on hiring Don Henley for post-game entertainment. That it took them nearly 90 minutes to play the first half had to be galling to both teams.

Troy received the second half kickoff, and marched down the field, ending with Wolfe finding Makai (Don't Be) Cruel in the corner of the end zone from 13 yards out. Leigh scored his 2nd 2 point conversion of the game, and the lead stretched to 28-13.

However, instead of penalties, injuries ruled the second half. Players on both sides, including Leigh, Lawrence, and, at the end of the game, Wolfe, had issues with cramps. Leigh, in fact, might've had hamstring issues, and missed most of the second half.

LaSalle tried to make it interesting in the fourth quarter. Eddie Yamin, a freshman quarterback who alternated with Catherwood, got the Cadets back within shouting distance with a 49 yard strike to Brady Fenton. Unfortunately, the 2 point conversion failed again. Now, it was 28-19, and Audino had a decision to make with just over 8 minutes left. Should the Cadets kick off, or try an onside kick.

They kicked off. Big mistake.

Troy ate up some clock, and then, it was Wolfe to Cruel, again, this time for 18 yards. Again, the 2 point conversion failed. The lead was back to 15 at 34-19.

However, LaSalle's next possession was a disaster. Catherwood lost the handle, and Jayden Riggins recovered the fumble, LaSalle's second turnover of the night, as Catherwood had thrown a pick earlier to Austin Francis to kill a drive. Wolfe cramped on the first play, and came out of the game. Two plays later, Xavier Ward, in the Wildcat formation, slammed the door shut on the game with a 15 yard run with 1:24 left in the game.

LaSalle had one last chance, but simply ran out of time. Troy retains the Cup, 40-19, in a marathon that took 3 hours and 8 minutes. In other words, it was your average NFL game played by high schoolers.

Both teams have to clean things up heading into next week. Troy has to hope that two of their key playmakers, Wolfe & Leigh, can return for the home opener vs. Amsterdam.
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Other Troy High news:

Thursday was a productive day for the Flying Horses as well. The boys' soccer team played to a scoreless draw with Schenectady for the second straight season, moving their record to 1-1-1 (0-1-1 in the Suburban Council). The women bounced back from a loss to Shenendehowa by blanking the Lady Patriots, 4-0. Troy also beat Schenectady in volleyball, three sets to one, as both the volleyball & women's soccer teams even their records at 1-1.

The tennis meet between Troy & Schenectady was not reported to the press.