High School Fridays: Feeling Super again (Ballston Spa @ Troy, 11/1/19)

There might not be much in the way of mountains in the vicinity of Troy High, but, to borrow the lyrics from an old Mr. Mister record from the mid-80's. the winds were blowing hard within the confines of Picken Memorial Field on a blustery, chilly Friday night.

With a spot in the Class A Super Bowl on the line, Troy hosted Ballston Spa. The Scotties had eliminated Amsterdam last week, while Troy routed Scotia. The wind certainly was going to be a major factor.

Troy won the coin toss, and took the opening kickoff, but turned the ball over on downs, as the Ballston Spa defense stiffened deep in their own end. However, the only score of the first half came on a botched Ballston Spa punt. A high snap led to a partial block by Troy's Tyrell Penalba. The ball was knocked out of the end zone for a safety, giving Troy a 2-0 lead. It would stay that way all the way to halftime, as the game became a war of attrition. Troy mounted two more drives of 10 plays or more, but were unable to score. It was the defense that helped make the special teams score stand up heading into the break.

The winds began to die down in the third quarter, but you couldn't tell if you were watching at home, as Spectrum Cable was having some transmission issues due to the winds adversely affecting their satellites all throughout the game.

After a Ballston Spa punt in the third quarter, Troy's offense finally got on the board, as Alex Wolfe found Makai Cruel in the end zone for a 22 yard catch. Cruel also converted the 2 point conversion, and Troy led, 10-0, entering the final quarter.

Troy had possession to start the fourth quarter, finishing a drive with Xavier Leigh scoring his only touchdown of the night from a yard in. This time, the 2 point conversion failed, and Troy led, 16-0, less than a minute into the quarter.

Ballston Spa, aided by a questionable 4th down penalty against Troy, which should've been offsetting fouls, finally got on the scoreboard, as Keegan Zoller hit Aiden Thomas from 8 yards out. The 2 point conversion failed, and now the Scotties were down by 10 at 16-6, but time was not on their side.

Or, as a world famous Great Dane might put it, ruh-roh.

Less than 2 minutes later, after Ballston Spa botched an onside kick, catching it shy of 10 yards from the point of the kick, Troy cashed in again, as Wolfe hooked up with Cruel a second time, again from 22 yards. Jonah Griswold kicked the extra point, and it was 23-6, with under three minutes to go.

Ballston Spa fumbled the ensuing kickoff, their third turnover of the night, as Bryan Francis & Nasir Dawud-Soto forced the fumble. Griswold fell on it. Ballgame. Troy punted after Wolfe fell on a low snap on third down, giving the Scotties one last chance. On the last offensive play of the game, Zoller ran it in from 3 yards out. An extra point made the final score 23-13, and Troy advances to the Class A Super Bowl, their 4th Super Bowl appearance, between Classes A & AA, in Burns' 5 years at the helm.

Troy now awaits the winner of tomorrow's Burnt Hills-Queensbury game, with the Super Bowl set for November 9 at Shenendehowa. Meanwhile, the rumors are true, as Picken Field will host the AA Super Bowl next Friday, as Shen will face Guilderland, which upset defending champion Shaker earlier tonight.
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Other news: Troy's volleyball team saw their season end in a straight set loss in the first round of the sectionals to South Glens Falls.

In other sectional action, Stillwater advanced to the Class C Super Bowl with a 35-21 win over Greenwich. Schuylerville defeated Schalmont in Class B, and will await the Glens Falls-Holy Trinity winner.