High School Fridays: Feeling in the pink (Troy @ Averill Park, 10/4/19)

"Those that fail to remember history are doomed to repeat it."---George Santayana.

One year ago, Averill Park sat atop the Class A Capital division, undefeated, headed into a Senior Night game at Troy. Once that game ended, the Warriors coughed up the division and the game.

Thus, revenge was on the agenda of Averill Park as they hosted the Flying Horses on a cold, chilly night, where the penalty flags and chalk were pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. First place in the division was on the line again.

Troy took the opening kickoff. After a penalty moved them back before a play could be run from scrimmage, Xavier Leigh exploded through the defense, and raced 82 yards to the end zone. However, Jonah Griswold's extra point went nowhere, and Troy was up, 6-0.

But not for long.

Joe Milanese, who burned Troy for a long run last year, did it on the ensuing kickoff, rumbling 79 yards for the tying score. The conversion failed, here, too, repeating a theme from last year's game, and we were tied at 6 after the first quarter.

Things got quiet until the final two minutes of the half. Dan McShane put Averill Park in front with a 24 yard touchdown run, and after the extra point, the Warriors had a 13-6 lead.

Back came Troy, and back came Leigh, who scored his second touchdown, this one for 63 yards off a hook & lateral pass from Nasir Dawud-Soto. The two point conversion failed, and Averill Park's lead was sliced to one at 13-12 at the break.

In the third quarter, the Warriors extended the lead as QB Anthony Childrose scored on a one yard keeper. With the extra point, the lead was now at eight at 20-12.

Then, Averill Park's defense went to sleep, or so it'd seem.

Troy came marching back, with Alex Wolfe hitting Soto for a 9 yard touchdown toss. Wolfe then hit Makai Cruel for the 2 yard conversion, and the game was tied again at 20, going into the fourth quarter.

At that point, it became the Xavier Leigh show.

After Matt Morin fumbled the ensuing kickoff after the Soto TD, Troy took advantage, and on the first play of the fourth quarter, Leigh ran in from five yards out. The conversion failed, and Troy had just a six point lead.

Cruel contributed on defense, picking off Childrose to set up Leigh for one more touchdown, this one a 69 yard run. Xavier Ward ran in for the 2 point conversion, and now, it was up to the Warriors to try to come back.

But they couldn't do it on their own. In front of television cameras again, Troy was plagued with penalties, mostly because of a continuing lack of discipline, but with under three minutes to go in the game, it seemed as though the officials were trying to help the home team. It didn't work, as Darius Holmes picked off Childrose in front of the end zone with just over a minute left to ice it.

In all, Averill Park had five turnovers to Troy's two, as both teams had trouble hanging on to the football on the cold, damp grass. But, just like last year, Troy leaves with a win and the division lead, 34-20.

Troy, though, will have just six days before their next game, as they'll move on to play Columbia next Thursday, while Averill Park plays Amsterdam. In week 7, both teams will have Senior Night, as Troy hosts winless Albany, while Averill Park entertains Shenendehowa, a 35-13 winner tonight over Guilderland.

Advantage----Troy.