Troy Scores Early And Often As They Down The Defending State Champions Southern Columbia
By: Chris Manning / November 9, 2024 / Photo: Chris Manning
Troy football gave state power Southern Columbia one of their worst losses in program history, beating the Tigers 69-28 during the District IV, Class AA semifinals.
The 69 points are the most a Southern Columbia team has even given up as Troy amassed 412 total yards, 294 of those yards coming on the ground.
They also had two kick-off returns for scores, and a pick six.
Evan Woodward had 143-yards rushing and two touchdowns on eight carries, while Brendan Gilliland had 12 touches for 90-yards and three scores.
Woodward was 3-for-5 for 81-yards and a pick, with Joseph Frye tossing a 37-yard touchdown pass to Lincoln Chimics.
Chimics had three catches for 31-yards and a touchdown, with Mason Smith taking a kick-off return to the house, freshman Spencer Martin taking an interception to pay dirt, and Jack Burbage punching in a touchdown run.
Troy jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first 2:40 as Lincoln Chimics had an 84-yard kick-off return for a score, followed by Gilliland running one in from six yards out with 9:20 on the clock. Gavin Lykon-Leffler went 1-for-2 on the kicks.
After the defenses settled Troy added another score with 4:33 left in the half Frye's half back toss to Chimics which made it 19-0 after the failed 2-point conversion.
A Woodward 62-yard run followed a little over a minute later for a the 26-0 lead.
Southern finally got on the scoreboard with a Caden Hopper 3-yard run, but Smith answered quickly with a 92-yard kick-off return to the house for a 32-6 lead.
The Tigers would score late in the half, and early in the second half to cut it to 32-20.
However, with 7:19 left in the third Woodward found another seam to the end zone, this time 57-yards, with Lykon-Leffler's kick good for a 39-20 lead.
On Southern's ensuing drive Martin picked off the pass and took it untouched to the house for a 45-20 lead with 6:15 left in the half.
A Gilliland 28-yard run with 1:43 on the clock made it 52-20 after the Lykon-Leffler kick.
Troy got a Burbage 1-yard run in the fourth, a team safety when a Southern snap went out of the back of the end zone, and a Gilliland 5-yard run to go up 69-20. SCA would added a touchdown late for the 69-28 final.
