Troy 23, Lyndon 0

For the first time in school history, the Troy Trojans have advanced to the Sub-State round of the high school football playoffs.  On a frigid Friday night in Lydon, Troy pitched their fifth defensive shutout of the year and won their ninth consecutive game, while atoning for last seasons home Sectional Playoff defeat against the Tigers with a sounding 23-0 victory.  Lyndon had the ball a the Troy two-yard-line on the final snap of the first half, but Tristan Speer made a tackle in the backfield to preserve a 16-0 Trojan advantage at the intermission.  The Troy defense took care of the rest, limiting Lyndon to only 14 yards on 9 total offensive plays in the second half.  Senior 1,000-yard runningback, Daniel Burgess was injured on that final carry of the first half and did not return for Lyndon.  

It was a shaky start as both teams fumbled on their opening possession of the game.  Troy drove 54 yards on 10 plays and Speer ran in a one-yard score and a two-point-conversion to make it 8-0 with 4:05 to play in the first quarter.  After forcing a pair of three-and-outs on defense, Speer drove the visitors 70 yards on 9 plays and found Collin Jasper on a 33 yard touchdown pass midway through the second frame.  A pass to Cuttar Huss for two-points made it 16-0.  Derek Franken added a seven-yard TD run to cap the scoring in the fourth quarter.  

Lyndon fumbled on their second play of the third quarter and after a three-and-out, Cuttar Huss and Jake Ross had interceptions for Troy to hold the Tigers without a single first down in the second half.  Dawson Swinehart, who had ran for more than 1,800 yards this season, was held to a season low of only 27 yards on 12 carries an Lyndon managed only 99 total yards in the game before ending their season with a 9-2 record.  

Troy got 78 yards on 22 carries for Franken while Speer added 53 yards rushing and a score and also completed 14 of 20 passes for 152 yards and the TD pass to Jasper, who had 92 yards receiving on 6 catches.  Speer did throw a second quarter INT, but now has a school record 35 touchdown passes to only 2 interceptions on the season.  Speer was named the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha "Player to Bank On" after adding five tackles and two for loss.  

Seniors, Nathan Gaarder and Jay Whetstine were named the "Lineman of the Game" sponsored by the Denison State Bank Online.     Troy, who has matched their 10-win seasons of 2003 and 2004, now travels to face Olpe (10-1) in a Sub State game on Friday night.  Olpe beat Onaga 33-22 to advance, and earlier this season defeated Lyndon 36-28.  The winner of Troy at Olpe will advance to the 2A State Championship at Fort Hays State University against either Ell-Saline or Phillipsburg.  Live coverage of the Trojan 2014 playoff march will continue live on KNZA 103.9 FM and www.mscsports.net