He simply says it because it’s exactly the attitude that’s made the Troy Trojans’ trio of running backs so hard to contain.
“We go out there and hammer it to ’em,” Vasta says.
It’s hard to argue with him.
Troy has run over opponents en route to six straight wins and its first district title in 10 years. The Trojans (7-2, 6-0 District 16-2A) can clinch the outright district crown with a win over McGregor on Friday night.
Led by seniors Vasta and Jeremy Conrad, along with sophomore Cyrus McKenzie, the Trojans have rushed for nearly 279 yards per game and racked up almost 2,500 yards on the ground.
The thing that’s made all three so dangerous is how quickly they can pick up yards in big bunches. Conrad, McKenzie and Vasta each average nearly a first down per carry.
“They can’t just focus on one guy,” Vasta said. “If they focus on one of our running backs, the other running backs can break loose.”
The Trojans’ trio of backs are a combination of youth and experience.
Conrad is a three-year starter who’s rushed for more than 2,300 yards in his career. Vasta, who’s finally burst into the spotlight in his final year, has a team-best 784 yards. Then there’s McKenzie, a speedster with three games of 100 yards or more in his first varsity season.
“They’ve all opened up things for each other,” Trojans coach Grady Rowe said.
And the way Troy’s done it has been almost impossible to stop.
With the three-back system keeping the trio fresh, the Trojans have blitzed opponents in the first half en route to big halftime leads.
Troy’s scored at least three first-half touchdowns in every district game and has led by an average of 21 points at the half. Just once (against Crawford) has Troy led at the half by less than two touchdowns.
The Trojans’ secret isn’t anything special, just their own version of keepaway.
“Our kids come out ready to play,” Rowe said. “We like to keep the ball on offense and keep the defense on the sideline.”
Splitting up the carries between Conrad, Vasta and McKenzie has kept them fresh deep into the second half, though by that point most of the Trojans’ games have long been decided.
Even if the game’s no longer in doubt, knowing they only average about eight carries per game makes all three hungry to make their mark when their number is called.
“That determination just comes up more and makes us want to run the ball a little harder,” Conrad said.
What’s made a big difference during the Trojans’ tear through 16-2A competition has been much-improved blocking by linemen Andrew Hines, Luke Randolph, Justin Gregory, Isaiah Ross and Brandon Payne, along with tight end David Orange.
After having trouble moving the ball at times early in the season, the Trojans have had little trouble doing so lately.
“Our offensive line has done a great job,” Rowe said. “They’ve meshed and I can’t say enough about them.”
But with as physical of a style as Troy plays, it all comes back to attitude.
And the Trojans certainly aren’t shy about sharing the style they love to play.
“‘Get after their ass,’ our coaches tell us that every game,” Conrad said. “That’s what we do.”
