Towanda starts title defense with win over Troy

Written by: Jordan Clark on Sunday, September 4th, 2011. Follow Jordan Clark on Twitter.

Towanda started their ’11 season in title defense mode as it welcomed fellow NTL foe Troy to The Endless Mountain Complex in Towanda this weekend. The theme of the night was starting new and fresh as Towanda’s Jr. QB Trey Sites made his varsity debut.  Troy sported a new coaching staff, uniforms, and  many new faces. Towanda’s Sites started off very shaky fumbling twice and throwing an interception in the first half, but settled down nicely to throw for 240 yards and four touchdowns on the way to a 46-22 win for Towanda.

In the early going, it looked nothing like it was advertised on paper as the young Trojans threw the kitchen sink at Towanda with everything they had. A solid blend of passing and running by Troy’s Lucas Havens and Jed Wright highlighted the beginning of the game for a Troy 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The Towanda offense could not capitalize with continuously turning the ball over with a nervous young quarterback and line. It wasn’t until 5:30 in the first half that the home team found pay-dirt with a 48 yard TD pass from Sites to Zach Ripic. From then on, it was all Sites and the Black Knights. Sites would find Ripic again on an identical play on the opposite side of the field for another touchdown pass, this one a 67 yarder. The score remained 14-7 as Towanda continued to drive, only to be turned away by the Trojan D, led by middle line-backer Tanner Bulkley.

In the third quarter the flood gates opened on Troy as Towanda scored 26 points and blew the game wide open. The scoring started as Trey Sites found Sr. Mason Roof on a shovel pass where he juked, spun, and rammed in from 39 yards out. Lucas Havens tried to get Troy back in the game as he took to the air in the next series. Zach Ripic picked off a Havens pass and returned it 56 yards down the Trojan sideline for a 28-7 lead. Sites continued to fire the ball to different receivers as this time he found Casey Huff for a 10 yard TD pass. The conversion attempt failed and Towanda led 34-7 with 2:49 to play in the third. Huff decided he enjoyed his time in the end-zone so much that the very next series he picked off a Havens pass and returned it 66 yards for a TD himself for a 40-7 lead.

Towanda kept its starters in to secure the mercy rule with eight minutes to go in the game. It was Sr. Jordan Dawsey, who also had a great game returning kicks, scoring from 21 yards out in the wildcat formation for a 46-7 lead. Troy got a chance to get some confidence for next week as the starters and reserves both came away with points in their last two drives of the evening. First, it was Havens who found a wide open Zack Root streaking down the middle for a 75 yard TD. With the score at 46-14, Troy ended the night’s scoring with 29 seconds left with a TD pass from Wright to FR. Brandon Mattocks. The two point try was good to end the scoring at 46-22

Towanda’s Sites finished the day going 12-22 for 240 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Lucas Havens went 11-28 for 213 yards one touchdown and two interceptions. Towanda’s Ripic had four catches for 144 yards, two touchdowns and also had an interception return for a touchdown. Wright finished a nice game for the Trojans going two for two for 40 yards and a score, catching three passes for 66 yards, and rushing for 27 yards.

Towanda will travel for a tough test next week against the newly consolidated Elmira Express school in N.Y. Troy will get to stay home next week and due battle v.s Hughesville.

Next Week’s NTL Game of The Week: Canton at North Penn.

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