Troy improved its season record to 3-2 and its District 16-2A mark to 2-0 with its third consecutive win over Crawford. The Pirates dropped to 4-1, 1-1.
Vasta, who scored on runs of 43 and 70 yards, led a trio of Trojan runners past the century mark. Jeremy Conrad contributed 104 yards and a pair of touchdowns, one on an 80-yard punt return, and Cyrus McKenzie added 102 yards and a score.
In all, Troy’s overpowering rushing attack churned out 26 first downs and 496 yards on 61 carries. With linemen Luke Randolph, Andrew Hines, Brandon Payne, Isaiah Ross and Justin Gregory bulldozing the way, the Trojans had five scoring drives of 67 yards or more as they controlled the ball, ran the clock and ground down Crawford’s defense with a confusing barrage of counter sweeps and traps. The Pirates had given up only three touchdowns in their previous four games; Troy equalled that in the first half.
The Trojans’ offense was particularly dominant in the second half. Sitting on a 21-14 halftime lead, Troy generated 16 first downs and 315 yards rushing en route to four more touchdowns. The Pirates ran only one play on offense in the fourth quarter - a pass play that resulted in an interception - to 20 snaps for the Trojans.
Vasta also was one of the leaders on a Troy defense that limited Crawford to 10 first downs and 272 yards of offense - only 100 after halftime. Angel Lurati, Andrew Taylor, Trey Collier, Chris Chandler, Logan Tucker, Ryan Dach and Gregory also made significant contributions on a swarming Trojans defense that frequently had as many as four tacklers combine for a stop. Most important, Troy had two second-half interceptions, big in a fast-scoring, seesawing game that for awhile looked as if the team with the last possession would win.
Troy took the second-half kickoff and relentlessly marched 75 yards in five plays to score on Roy Freeman’s 17-yard run. The drive, which took only 1:38, increased the Trojans’ advantage to 28-14.
Crawford stormed right back, driving 64 yards in eight plays. Dustin Dorris scored from 1 yard out, making the score 28-21 with 6:42 left in the third.
The Trojans’ next possession covered 83 yards in three plays and only 1:05. The last 70 yards came when Vasta broke free on a counter sweep and raced up the right sideline. Brandon Clark’s PAT kick gave Troy a 35-21 lead.
The Pirates threatened to score again on their next possession, moving from their 34 to the Trojan 30 in eight plays. But then Vasta intercepted a Chane Lynch pass at the Troy 10 with 1:14 left in the quarter and returned it to the Troy 16.
From there the Trojans launched another scoring drive, this one lasting eight plays. Conrad capped it with a 7-yard run, making the score 42-21 with 9 minutes left in the game.
On the ensuing kickoff, Bryce Murphy broke free to score on an 86-yard return. Murphy did his best to keep the Pirates afloat. He finished with 140 yards rushing on 11 carries, including a 62-yard TD, and caught a 55-yard touchdown pass.
Troy’s next possession resulted in yet another lengthy scoring drive, covering 70 yards in nine plays. McKenzie finished it off with a 3-yard run, making the score 49-28 with 3:50 left.
On Crawford’s next offensive play, Collier intercepted a Lynch pass at the Troy 40 and returned it to the Pirate 33, sealing the victory.
rray@temple-telegram.com
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