Trojans nearly rally past Arlee in homecoming game
Troy quarterback Carson Orr (3) shakes an Arlee tackler for a long gain Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
The final outcome was not what the home crowd wanted, but Troy Trojans football fans got their money’s worth as the hosts nearly knocked off Arlee.
The Trojans trailed 16-14 with a little more than two minutes left when Wyatt Schertel picked off a Warriors pass near the Troy goal line and returned it to the 33.
After a few plays netted no yards, junior quarterback Carson Orr’s run and a face mask penalty on Arlee put the Trojans in Warriors’ territory.
A holding call on the Trojans moved them back to midfield on the next play, but Schertel, who splits time at QB, found sophomore Mason Crowe for a 16-yard gain.
Trojans head coach Justin Young called timeout with 1:28 left. On the next play from scrimmage, Orr, back at quarterback, scrambled eight yards for a first down at the Arlee 16.
Senior Trapper Savage picked up two yards on the next play, but three straight incomplete passes gave the ball back to Arlee and the Warriors ran out of the clock.
The game started with back-to-back fumbles by each team and the Trojans had the ball at its 22. On a third-down play, Orr scrambled and dodged several Warrior tacklers on an exciting 55-yard TD run with 9:02 left in the first.
Orr then found Schertel for the conversion pass and the Trojans led 8-0.
Troy got the ball back after sophomore Braxton Pinnard sacked the quarterback, forcing a punt.
After a handful of plays, Orr broke free for another long TD run, this time 30 yards. But a holding penalty nullified the score.
About three minutes into the second quarter, a good punt return by Arlee had the Warriors on the Trojan 22.
The Warriors eventually moved to the Troy 1. The defense stopped two straight plays, but Arlee scored on third down and got the conversion to tie the game at 8-8 with 3:38 left in the half.
Troy started with the ball on its 22, but two big plays put the Trojans deep in Arlee’s end of the field.
A 25-yard run by Savage on fourth down got Troy to near midfield. A holding penalty pushed them back, but Orr ripped of a 38-yard run to the Warriors 11.
Troy called timeout with 31 seconds left.
On the next play, Schertel hit Orr for the touchdown and Troy 14-8 at halftime.
The lead held until Arlee scored on a 33-yard pass play on the last play of the third quarter. A successful conversion run made it 16-14.
Troy (0-4) is back in action Friday at Plains. The Horsemen are 1-3 and have lost three straight games since an 81-8 win over Victor. Last week, Superior beat Plains, 60-28.
Troy's Wyatt Schertel (1) and Trapper Savage put pressure on Arlee's punter during the second half of the game Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)