Six weeks ago, Niskayuna came to Picken Field at Troy High, and laid waste to the Flying Horses.
Tonight brought the rematch in the Class A Super Bowl at Colonie High. Would the result be any different this time? Troy hoped not, as they'd won five in a row since losing on October 3. Job 1, of course, was shutting down Nisky's senior superstar, UAlbany commit Cameron Grasso, whose father, Mike, is the offensive coordinator for Nisky, and had that same role at Troy during the Bob Burns era, helping Troy win two state titles in 2016-7.
Troy won the opening coin toss, deferred, and put their defense on the field to start the game. A good decision, as Nisky went 3-&-out. Troy QB Kyair Carr, however, on his 2nd play from scrimmage, fumbled, and Nisky got the ball right back. However, they couldn't do anything, as Troy stopped them on downs, and the 1st quarter would end in a scoreless tie.
Troy started the 2nd quarter with the ball, but Carr committed his 2nd turnover of the night, as Chase Meisner picked him off, and took the ball back 51 yards to paydirt. Owen Sanderson added the extra point, and Nisky led, 7-0. Troy came right back, and marched down the field, with Nymiere Jenkins taking it in from 12 yards out. However, the extra point was blocked, leaving Troy down 1.
With under a minute left to halftime, Omare Forrest extended the lead from a yard out. Another Sanderson PAT sent Nisky into the break with a 14-6 lead.
It was back to a war of attrition to start the 2nd half. Late in the 3rd quarter, Tom Boler found Grasso for a 16 yard catch. It was now 21-6 going into the final quarter.
In that 4th quarter, frustration began to set in for Troy, as the penalties piled up. Boler threw his 2nd touchdown pass, this time to Joey DiPiazza, whose namesake father was tried out as a studio analyst with Spectrum News 1 for about 15 minutes a few years ago. The 44 yard strike, it turned out, put the game away, as Troy ran out of time. Niskayuna wins its 3rd Class A title in 4 years, 28-6.
For Troy, which finishes 8-3, it was a moral victory in that they held Nisky under 30 points. For Nisky, the next game is right back at Colonie, next Friday, vs. Cornwall from Section 9, which lost the title to Minsink Valley earlier tonight.
Earlier today, Greenwich claimed the Class D title, shutting out Cambridge-Salem, 35-0. Spectrum's last game broadcast of the season is tomorrow, as Colonie hosts the Class AA title game (CBA vs. Saratoga).
Also, Burnt Hills claimed its 12th straight men's volleyball title, downing CBA in Division 2, 3-1. Shenendehowa needed 5 sets to win the Division 1 title over Shaker.
No less than James Allen believes that Troy could be a favorite to win the A title next year, if Niskyuna moves back to Class AA. What he didn't mention is the prospect of Averill Park, playing for the B title tomorrow, possibly moving back up next year. We'll see in 10 months time.
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