Trojan gridders aiming for playoffs in 2015

The Troy Trojans have been knocking on the door the last three years and head coach, Brendan Miller said that they may knock the door down this year.

“The 2015 season will be a success if we make the playoffs,” Miller said. We’ve been one point away from making the playoffs for two straight years. This is a make or break season for us. We will be losing nine seniors. We will be very young after this season.”

Last season the Trojans finished with a 3-5 record and lost three seniors from that team. The team will have eight returning starters and nine seniors with 14 freshmen coming in.

“The strength of this team will be our overall experience,” he said. We are going to be playing nine seniors and eight of them started last year.”

Miller said the biggest concern for the 2015 season will be the lack of numbers.

“We just don’t have a lot of depth,” he said. “We have about 29 kids signed up. Everybody will be playing offense and defense. As long as our starters stay healthy we will be fine.”

Miller said their lack of depth would really show up if they happen to lose one of their starting linemen.

“If we lose a lineman we lose a guy that’s 220 pounds and has experience,” he said. “The kid replacing him is a guy that weighs 160 and not experienced. It would be a big drop off.”

The Trojans depend on a strong rushing attack on offense to move the chains.

“We run a read option spread,” Miller said. “We run the ball a lot. Last year we passed maybe 25 times. We like to spread it out and get our guys in space. I took the big boys upfront out for a lot of steak dinner last year. They don’t get nearly enough credit for the success we have running the ball.”

Sean Opland is a big reason why the Trojans preferred to stay on the ground last year.

“Sean is a stud,” he said. “Last year he played running back. This year he will be playing quarterback for us. He averaged 10 yards per carry last year. He’s going to be playing Division-I football. He’s just an incredible athlete. He had 1,300 yards rushing and 150 tackles in eight games last year. The kid is just ridiculous.”

Miller said with teams focusing on Opland it opens things up for other players.

“Mason Chapel is really fast,” he said. He’s pretty quick and athletic. We’ve got good speed and like to get our guys in open space. The fact that everybody knows Sean and keys on him, it opens things up for the other guys on the team.”

Connor Quiring played for Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah last year and Miller said he’ll help the Trojans in 2015.

“We have a new kid that came to town and he’s a linebacker and running back type kid,” Miller said. “He played varsity for a 5-A school in Utah. He has been taking part in the summer activities and acclimated himself real well. He’ll help us quite a bit.”

The Trojans will start their season at home against Conrad, Friday, September 4, at 7 p.m.