Flying in the daylight (Albany @ Troy, 10/19/19)

"It was a pretty good crowd for a Saturday...."--Billy Joel, "Piano Man", 1973.

Troy High has not had a Saturday home game since 2010. On a warm, breezy Senior Day afternoon, the Flying Horses set about taking care of business before the playoffs begin on Friday. Winless Albany was in town, and due to escalating tensions between youths from both cities, extra police presence was noticable at Picken Field.

However, after all the drama, and all the precautions, there was nothing to worry about.

To clarify what had happened following Troy's last home game on September 27, the 70-person mega-brawl at nearby McDonald's involved only Troy students. The incident at the start of the 3rd quarter that night? Someone started a rumor that there might be a fight, and that scenario was diffused quickly. According to a school monitor I spoke with after the game, there's always been tension between students from not only Troy & Albany, but Schenectady as well, spanning decades. Must be a generational thing.

Back to the business on the field. Troy took the opening kickoff, and marched down the field quickly, culminating in Xavier Leigh scampering 27 yards to the end zone. With the PAT by Jonah Griswold, Troy had a quick 7-0 lead.

Albany alternated quarterbacks. Rah'Sier Chandler started, but was promptly dropped for no gain on his first play. Coach Mike Ware then inserted Daniel Delaney, who got the offense moving into Troy territory, but no further, and the Falcons turned the ball over on downs.

Back came Troy, and it became the Alex Wolfe show. The junior quarterback was more accurate than normal, and hit Xavier Ward with an 18 yard catch & run with under two minutes left in the quarter. The PAT looked like it was partially blocked, leaving Troy with a 13-0 lead after the first stanza.

After an Albany punt, Troy came right back down the field. Wolfe nearly had a pass intercepted, but Tyrell Penalba picked the defender's pocket, claiming possession of the pass, and rumbled 22 yards for the score. Leigh ran the 2 point conversion in, and Troy was suddenly up, 21-0, a shade more than 90 seconds into the second quarter.

After an exchange of interceptions, Leigh notched his second TD of the game, this one from 3 yards out. Griswold converted the extra point, and Troy was starting to pull away. After another Albany punt, Wolfe and Leigh hooked up for 75 yards. Troy led, 35-0, at halftime, and some fans were already heading for the exits.

Albany took the second half kickoff, and actually did Troy a favor with milking the clock. They turned the ball over on downs again, and Wolfe made them pay with his 4th TD toss of the day, this one going 19 yards to Nasir Dawud-Soto. With the score 42-0, coach Bob Burns began pulling his starters, and inserted sophomore Austin Francis into the game at QB. It's not like he had any other choice, because in this case, he didn't. Elias Daniels, the 3rd QB on the roster, was injured and did not dress for the game.

Troy's defense hadn't pitched a shutout all season, and just when it seemed as though they would, the second team defense relaxed a wee bit too much, and allowed a late touchdown, as Delaney hit Andre Woods for a 21 yard catch & run with under two minutes remaining. Kwali Poole scored the 2 point conversion. Troy then ran out the clock, and will cruise into the post-season, 42-8.

It was not only Senior Day for the 12 seniors on the football team, but the 7 on the cheerleading team, as well. Curiously, the 15 woman squad was trimmed to 8 for the day, and that normally doesn't happen.

The PA announcer's script appeared to have been written with regard to the game's original date, that being last night, as he said Troy would host a playoff game against "a team to be determined". Please. Troy will host Scotia-Glenville for the second straight year in the first round, as the Tartans locked up 4th place in the Grasso Division with a win over Gloversville last night.

Speaking of the Grasso Division, Queensbury clinched the division title again earlier today, besting Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, 28-12, avenging a loss to Burnt Hills in last year's Super Bowl.

The Class A playoff pairings are now set:

LaSalle @ Queensbury. John Audino's Cadets, who lost a heartbreaker to Amsterdam on the final play last night, have to travel to the North Country for the second straight year next Saturday.
Scotia-Glenville @ Troy. The Tartans nearly pulled the upset last year, but the Flying Horses sent a loud message today that it won't happen a second time.
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake @ Averill Park.
Amsterdam @ Ballston Spa. The surprising Scotties finished second in the Grasso, and thus swap places with Burnt Hills.

The pairings ensure that Troy will not see Burnt Hills until the Super Bowl, assuming both teams get there. Troy would get the Amsterdam-Ballston Spa winner instead if they take down Scotia-Glenville.

This is why they play the games.