Troy Trojans slam Victor to end losing streak
THE TROY Trojans celebrate after beating Victor, 42-6, Saturday. The Trojans broke a 29-game losing streak on the field. (Photo courtesy Luke Haggerty)
TROY HEAD coach Luke Haggerty, center, and his seniors got together for a photo after beating Victor, 42-6, Saturday. It was the Trojans' first win on the field since 2015. (Photo courtesy Luke Haggerty)
It’s been nearly four years since the Troy Trojans walked off a football field as winners, but Friday in Victor, they did.
The Trojans stopped a 29-game losing streak on the field after beating the Pirates, 42-18, its first since beating Thompson Falls, 35-32, Oct. 19, 2015.
Troy did collect a forfeit win, Sept, 29, 2017, over Hot Springs. But second-year head coach Luke Haggerty wasn’t interested in counting forfeit wins.
“It’s great for the kids to be able to see their hard work pay off,” Haggerty said. “There were a few teary eyes after the game and they have been a very hard-working group.”
Haggerty doesn’t have to keep track of the days between wins - 1,443 to be exact - any more.
“They deserve to feel how it is to win,” Haggerty said.
The Trojans (1-3) rolled to a 42-6 lead at halftime.
Quarterback Terren Winebark and receiver Ricki Fisher connected for three first-quarter touchdowns as the Trojans led 20-0 after one quarter. The first one was for 6 yards and the next two were for 56 and 55 yards, respectively. Jace Fisher had conversion runs on two of the touchdowns.
Fisher opened the second quarter with a 4-yard run and he added the conversion to make it 30-0.
Victor then scored its first touchdown, but the Trojans came right back with a 65-yard kickoff return by Kolton Lewis to make it 36-6.
Ricky Starks then scored on a 1-yard TD pass from Winebark to make it 42-6.
Haggerty said Winebark threw for about 275 yards while Ricki Fisher had more than 130 yards receiving and about 50 rushing. Both Fishers, cousins, led the team on defense, too.
The Pirates added two meaningless touchdowns in the second half to set the final of the Class C 8-man game.
The Trojans return to action at 7 p.m. Friday as they host the Clark Fork Mountain Cats. Clark Fork is a co-op team consisting of Superior and Alberton schools in Mineral County. It is 4-0 and ranked third in the state.