High School Fridays: Tonight's menu includes Tartan sauce (Scotia @ Troy, 10/25/19)

Last year, Troy High nearly let a first round playoff game slip through their fingers against Scotia,  but the defense came to the rescue to preserve a 14-7 win.

After blowing out Albany last week, the message was clear. That was then, this is now, and Troy wasn't taking any prisoners in the rematch.

The Tartans won the toss, and elected to receive. However, on the first play from scrimmage, Jason Carusone felt like he was on a carousel, as he fumbled, and Troy was in business. Just two plays later, Xavier Leigh raced 22 yards into the end zone. However, Jonah Griswold's extra point failed, and Troy led, 6-0, just 65 seconds into the game.

Roughly four minutes later, Leigh struck again, this time from 3 yards out. The two point conversion failed, leaving the score at 12-0 after the first quarter. Two minutes and change into the second quarter, and Leigh had the hat trick, again from 3 yards out. Again, the two point conversion failed, making it 18-0.

Scotia finally had a sustained drive on the ensuing possession, ending with David Fresoni hitting Cole Holstein with a 10 yard touchdown pass. Troy coach Bob Burns had to have had a cow over the defensive lapses on the drive. Shaun Lawrence added the extra point to trim the lead to 18-7.

Unfortunately for the Tartans, there was no time to savor the moment. Leigh saw to that on the very next play from scrimmage, going 67 yards for his fourth touchdown. Alex Wolfe finally converted a 2 point conversion with a pass to Makai Cruel.

Just over three minutes later, after Cruel picked off Fresoni, Wolfe took it in himself, and added a 2 point conversion on another keeper, giving Troy a 34-7 lead at halftime.

The third quarter began the same way the first half did, with a lightning fast Troy score. Wolfe connected with Nasir Soto for 61 yards to put the game away. Griswold added the extra point to make it 41-7.

Not long after, it began raining. Not a heavy downpour, but something light, just above drizzle. Jack Armstrong took over at quarterback for Scotia and led a touchdown drive to make it 41-13 after a failed extra point. Avvon Smith put a bow on it with a 15 yard run to make the final score 48-13.

Up next for Troy will be Ballston Spa, which eliminated Amsterdam, 35-12. Burnt Hills sent Averill Park packing, 17-7. The Warriors end the season having lost three of their last four to finish at 5-3 overall. The final semifinal berth will be decided tomorrow when LaSalle plays at Queensbury.
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Troy's soccer season is over, as the women were shut out by Queensbury, 4-0, earlier today. Justin Haviland's club finishes 3-14 overall (2-11 in the Suburban Council).