FULLERTON – Three eventual league champions lost to Troy earlier this season. Then the Warriors scored 158 points against Freeway League competition, their highest total since 2006.
How Troy staged such a successful 2014 season was evident in its 42-6 dismantling of Sunny Hills on Friday night at Fullerton.
Despite losing consistent contributors Dray Shaw, Spencer Hayes and Nick Magee to injury, the Warriors (7-3, 3-2) zoomed past Sunny Hills (5-5, 0-5) to secure the Freeway League’s third-place playoff spot.
Fourteen of Troy’s first 17 offensive plays gained 7 yards or more. Receivers Ryan Scotti and Dominic Vaccher combined for eight catches, 163 yards receiving and three touchdowns during the first half.
When Sunny Hills did test the Warriors with a 13-play, 78-yard drive in the first quarter, Troy denied the Lancers – defensive end Jordan Steinbrecher tipped Connor Holz’s pass into the hands of Brett Haima, who returned the interception 47 yards to midfield.
Shaw and Magee, Troy’s leading rushers, sustained ankle injuries in the second quarter. Neither returned, but Troy’s rushing game remained productive. Sophomore Brett Ferguson had 77 yards on eight carries.
