Troy puts heart in winning drive against Wayne

Trojans march 95 yards, including seven first downs, in 10:33 for upset.

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By Doug Harris, Staff Writer 1:51 AM Saturday, September 26, 2009

HUBER HEIGHTS — Troy scored once on a Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half. But the way the Trojans were otherwise playing offense, they didn’t seem capable of reaching the end zone again without a police escort.

But improbably, implausibly and absolutely without forewarning, they put together a decisive 95-yard drive that paved the way for a 14-12 upset of the Braxton Miller-less Wayne Warriors on Friday. For one glorious 21-play march, it was as if Ryan Brewer was back taking handoffs and making defenders miss.

“That was a nice win,” Troy coach Steve Nolan said. “A character win is what it was. ... We fought every minute of the ball game.

“That 95-yard drive was something special.”

Nursing a 7-6 lead with 2:25 to go in the third quarter, the Trojans (2-3) chewed up 10:33 from the clock by grinding out seven first downs (four more than they had in their previous seven possessions). Fullback Chris Basil scored from two yards out with 3:52 left, and the PAT made it 14-6.

After a good return gave Wayne (3-2) a short field, freshman quarterback Javon Harrison, subbing for the sore-legged Miller, hooked up with Bear Westmoreland for a 10-yard TD with 1:56 to go. Needing a two-point conversion to tie, Wayne handed off to its best back, Anthone Taylor, but he was stopped about two feet short.

Chris Williams then recovered the onside kick for Troy, which held on for a decision that put Wayne’s playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.

“They had a lot of heart. They fought like crazy,” Wayne coach Jay Minton said.

Miller’s presence might have made a difference, but Minton said: “One player goes down and we can’t execute? That doesn’t say a whole lot about us.

“He could have made some plays that were there to make, but, shoot, we had 10 other guys out there.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@Dayton DailyNews.com.

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