Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
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Football preview: Troy
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school football for the 2010 season:
TROY (D-I, Region 3)
League: GWOC North
Coach: Steve Nolan (27 years; 31st overall, including 4 years at Conneaut)
2009 record: 2-2, 5-5
Key returners:
Brad Armstrong, sr., QB/DB
Lee Blackford, sr., OL
Marcus Foster, jr., RB
Bryan O’Neil, sr., LB
Kyle Terrando, sr., DB
Extra points:
The dean of GWOC coaches was at a career crossroads last summer.
“I had to make a decision for myself,” reflected Nolan. “I’d spent 35-36 years in education. I had to make a decision to stay or go and develop the next few years and hopefully it’ll pay off.
“I really believe the people thought I’d get out the year before. I had to look at where I was personally. I knew this was coming. Honestly, those kids surprised me.”
The Trojans hadn’t made the playoffs since 2004 and were facing a total makeover with 13 sophomores ticketed to start. Then came defining defeats of Lebanon and Wayne. And had Sidney not stung Troy in the final seconds of the final game, it would have been the Trojans advancing to the postseason in Region 3 instead of Springfield.
The entire offensive line is back and most of the backfield. Defensively, 3 of 4 linebackers return, plus the entire secondary. With all those returnees, Nolan and the Trojans are pumped about their renewed prospects.
“We’ll have basically the whole team intact,” Nolan said. “We’ve got a little different philosophy because of our team speed. With the offensive line back, we think we’re pretty solid.
“We knew things were going to be tough, but last year’s team really surprised me. That’s two real good and strong classes. We’re in a good situation now. We’re hoping to have a couple years here that we can make the playoffs.”
No team will have benefited from the GWOC schedule rotation as much as Troy. Gone are Xenia, Centerville and Wayne, which are replaced by Springboro, Miamisburg and Beavercreek. Troy had played Centerville 13 of the past 15 seasons, none more memorable than the Ryan Brewer/AJ Hawk game in 1998.
TROY
Fri., Aug. 27 Chaminade Julienne
Fri., Sept. 3 at Middletown
Fri., Sept. 10 Fairborn
Fri., Sept. 17 at Springboro
Fri., Sept. 24 Beavercreek
Fri., Oct. 1 at Vandalia Butler
Fri., Oct. 8 at Piqua
Fri., Oct. 15 Trotwood-Madison
Fri., Oct. 22 at Miamisburg
Fri., Oct. 29 Sidney
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By don
August 27, 2010 10:56 PM | Link to this
Trojans squelch the CJ hype…. 23-0