Troy Rolls Past Bedford And Into State Semifinals
By: Chris Manning | NTL Sports | November 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy Chris Manning
LOCK HAVEN — Troy football kept making history on Friday as they won their first PIAA quarterfinal contest, pulling away from District V champion Bedford, 42-16.
“It feels amazing to come out the second time ever going into the state playoffs, and going further than any team ever has in Troy history,” said lineman Avery Sens.
The last time Troy was in this position in 2013 they lost to Berks Catholic, but the Trojans flipped the script in 2024, punching their ticket to the Class AA semifinals with the win.
“I told the kids coming into this game there’s a reason why the pioneers are all remembered,” Troy coach Jim Smith said. “Those people that pave the way in history, whatever the topic may be, are never forgotten. And, for this group of kids, they’ve done something that Troy’s never done before.”
After a 3-and-out to start the game Troy scored on their next six drives, including three touchdowns in the third quarter to put the contest into the mercy rule.
For much of the game Bedford did something nobody in the state of Pennsylvania has been able to do, make Troy drive the ball. The Trojans had scoring drives of 12, nine, and nine plays in the first half before getting those big plays they’re known for in the third quarter.
“We knew defensively they hadn’t given up much all year,” said Smith. “They’re a good defense, very fundamental, their team speed is good, they tackle well. After a couple of series we sort of came to the conclusion that we had to use our biggest advantage on them, and that was our size and our physical nature. Rather than getting cute just lining up and running base plays, basic plays, and I think that was a good decision early on.”
The Trojans ran for 327 yards on 47 carries, while going a perfect 7-for-7 throwing the ball for 75 yards.
“It’s actually good for us because we’ve had a few games where it’s pretty easy to move the ball,” running back Brendan Gilliland said. “We really had to work for our points, and towards the second half it started to get better, and better as the offensive line was moving guys better.”
Gilliland led the way with 112-yards rushing and two scores on 13 carries, while Woodward had 99-yards and two touchdowns on seven carries.
Fullback Kael Millard had a workmanlike effort inside, running the ball 12 times for 47-yards and a score, while Mason Smith added 27-yards on five carries.
Woodward went 5-for-5 for 56-yards through the air, while it was Smith getting the touchdown pass to Lincoln Chimics on a halfback toss. Chimics finished with three catches for 32-yards, while Joseph Frye hauled in a 38-yard pass reception.
Defensively they shut out Bedford’s starters as the Bison finished with 240-total yards, but 90 of which came after Troy subbed out their first team.
The Trojans held Quincy Swaim to 78-yards rushing on 17 carries. Swaim started strong, running for 77-yards on his first seven touches, but Troy held him to just 21-yards rushing on his final 10 carries.
“He was a good player,” Gilliland said about Swaim. “We just had to learn to not go up field as far, and just kind of corral him in the pocket, and wait for him to make his decision - then we could pursue the ball.”
It was tough sledding through the air for Bedford as Swaim was 4-for-15 for 70-yards, throwing two picks to Frye and Ben Warburton.
AJ Koontz had one catch for 35-yards, while Treg Nave hauled in two receptions for 35-yards, as well.
Chimics held their top receiver, Owen Tedrow, catchless despite some early targets by Bedford.
“I felt it played out very well,” Chimics remarked. “He’s a great receiver, he had a great season, but I just took care of business.”
The Trojans took the opening kick-off but after three straight runs the Bisons did something no team has done this season, forced a 3-and-out on Troy’s first possession of the game.
A good punt by Chimics backed Bedford up to their own 14-yard line. However, runs of 11 and 33 yards by Swaim got them inside the Trojan 40.
Much like last week, though, an interception sparked the Trojans, with Frye getting the pick this time.
Taking over on the Bedford 49-yard line the Trojans nickel-and-dimed their way to the end zone on a 12-play scoring drive that took 5:43.
They went 2-for-2 on third down conversions as Millard had four carries for 19-yards and Gilliland added four touches for 13-yards during the drive.
It was Woodward punching it in, though, second-and-goal from the one. Gavin Lykon-Leffler hit the point after to make it 7-0 Trojans with 1:14 left in the first quarter.
Bedford once again got on Troy’s side of the field on their ensuing drive, this time thanks to a 22-yard Swaim run down the right sideline. However, the Trojan defense stiffened after that, forcing a punch.
The Trojans took over at their own 15-yard line, and time needed nine plays - including a conversion on 4th-and-1 - hit pay dirt.
The big play was a 42-yard run by Woodward in second-and-13 off an option.
“I just saw the outside open,” said Woodward. “I missed the hole that I probably could have scored on, but I got to the edge. I was a little too slow, and they caught me.”
Smith had a 10-yard run after that to the Bedford 25-yard line. The Bison defense dug in after that, forcing a 4th down, but Millard gutted out the 1-yard they needed.
On the ensuing play Troy went to their old stand-bye, a half back pass, with Smith hitting Chimics in the back of the end zone on the strike.
“I was very surprised when the play was called in the huddle, but, I figured, why not, I mean, no better time,” Chimics said. “We’ve run toss I don’t know how many times before that, and plenty of times we get their corner to bite, and I was just in the end zone wide open.”
Chimics needed to do a little fancy footwork to stay in bounds but it worked as the Trojans took a 14-0 lead off the Lykon-Leffler kick with 6:23 left in the half.
Bedford went 3-and-out on their next drive, thanks in large part to an Eason Teribury sack of Swaim that backed the Bison up 11-yards.
Troy would take over at the 50-yard line and needed nine plays to score in just under four minutes. Gilliland was the workhorse this drive, running the ball four times for 34-yards, including the 11-yard touchdown run when he ran over two Bedford defenders to get into the end zone.
Lykon-Leffler’s kick was good for a 21-0 lead at the half.
“We just had to keep the foot on the pedal,” Woodward said about finding their offense in the first half. “We knew things would open up eventually, so we just had to keep going, and things opened up. Bedford, they did a great job, and they didn’t make it very easy for us. Sometimes we’re able to get those big plays, save us some energy on long drives, but we’re able to complete the long drives tonight.”
Bedford took the kick-off to start the third quarter, and got as far as the 50 before being forced to punt.
Troy took over at their own 29-yard line and quickly went to work, finding pay dirt in just three plays.
Frye opened with a run to the left for nine yards, Smith followed with a run to the right for 10 yards, then Gilliland went up the middle for 52-yards to make it 28-0 after the Lykon-Leffler kick just 1:37 into the second half.
“Originally I was supposed to cut to the left more, but then I saw their linebackers over pursue, and there was a big lane to the right,” Gilliland said.
Bedford’s next drive ended in a punt, setting Troy up at their own 48-yard line.
They needed just five plays to score this time, with a 12-yard pass from Woodward to Chimics getting things started.
A Bedford personal foul on the next play, a Millard 6-yard run, got them inside the Bison 20-yard line.
Two players later Woodward was rolling out left to throw, but decided to take it, running 15-yards and diving at the pylon for the score. Lykon-Leffler hit the extra point for the 35-0 lead, putting the game into the mercy rule with 6:54 left in the third.
Troy’s final scoring drive was just three plays late in the third, as they got the ball at the Bedford 47-yard line off Warburton’s interception.
Two plays in Woodward hit Frye for a 38-yard hook up down to the Bison 3-yard line. Millard punched it in from there, with Lykon-Leffler finishing the night perfect on extra points for the 42-0 lead with 2:19 left in the third.
Whether it was driving the ball or with big plays, Sens liked how his teammates in the trenches controlled the game.
“It feels amazing,” he said. “It shows that we’re a dual threat as a team, and it gives us more confidence going further into the playoffs.”
The subs came in Bedford’s youngsters showed promise for the down the road as they got 16-yard touchdowns from Andrews Evans and Gabriel Taylor in the fourth quarter. Taylor ran in both 2-point tries for the 42-16 final.
“It’s very exciting,” Woodward said about going to the Class AA final four next weekend. “I’m glad I’m a part of this opportunity.”
They’ll get the winner of Riverside and Williams Valley, who saw their game moved to Saturday after Friday’s snow.
There could be more snow in the forecast next week, while Troy will also have the Thanksgiving holiday to work around.
“I think we’ll get an early practice in, and we’ll all go eat turkey dinner,” Smith said.
The players certainly aren’t complaining about working through the holiday.
“It’s a different feeling than I’ve ever had before,” explained Sens. “It feels amazing because I’ll be with both my families, the football team and my own family on Thanksgiving.”
