Interview with Coach Derek Jasper - click here to listen 
Interview with Troy seniors, Kortin Blevins, Wyatt Huss and Wil Smith - click here to listen 

As the final horn sounded last year and the Troy Trojans capped the football season as State runner-up in the Class 2-1A the goal for the next year was already set a return trip to Hays to finish what they started and capture their first football State title in school history. 

The Trojans entered the 2016 with a big target on their back as the #1 team in the preseason rankings and a favorite to return to Hays and the season had its obstacles for Troy but they passed all the tests winning the Twin Valley League 11-man title, a District title and finishing the regular season unbeaten. In the playoffs the Troy got plenty of home cooking and started the 2-1A playoffs off with a 42-16 win over Valley Heights using a strong second half and running game. A playoff date with Lyndon loomed next and the Trojans again declawed the Tigers in the playoffs winning 46-19 to move to the Semifinals where they shutout down the Pittsburg-Colgan Panthers holding them to 65 yards of total offense and won 28-0. 

Now Troy sits one win away again from being 2-1A State Champions and this time the Plainville Cardinals stand in the way on Saturday of the Trojans hoisting the State title trophy and they enter the game 12-0. The Trojans have enjoyed a strong year with a balanced offense averaging 224.6 yards passing and 168.4 rushing on the season but have ran for 200+ yards in each playoff game and are averaging 43.5 points per game. Senior, quarterback Reid Greaser guides the offense with 2,636 yards passing 35 touchdowns and has ran for eight scores. Seniors, Cuttar Huss and Brody Winder have been dynamic playmakers all year with Huss registering over 1,100 yards receiving with over 1,500 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns, while Winder has 950 yards receiving with 11 touchdown catches. Senior, Alex Martinez leads the ground attack with 622 yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively the Trojans have grown throughout the season giving up 14.2 points per game on the year while being quite opportunistic with 30 forced turnovers and six defensive touchdowns on the year. Senior, Wil Smith leads the defense with 109 tackles from his defensive end spot while registering 14 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Senior, Kortin Blevins has 98 tackles and senior, Wyatt Huss is third on the team with 69 tackles and has five sacks along with four fumble recoveries. 

Troy's opponent in Plainville enters the State title game 2-0 in State Champoinship contests but haven't been in a State title matchup since 1985 and were just 3-6 the last two years before going on the big run this year and enter the title game 11-1 on the season. The Cardinals lone loss is to Phillipsburg 31-16, the same team that beat Troy in the title game last year (30-29) and Phillipsburg entered the year with several key pieces back from last year’s team. Plainville's success has centered ground the play of quarterback, Hayden Friend and their defense which is the best scoring defense in 2-1A giving up just 10.1 points per game this year, while also being opportunistic forcing 31 turnovers. Offensively the Cardinals are averaging 39.3 points per game this year led by Friend who has thrown for 1,862 yards with 28 touchdowns and ran for 1,156 yards with 18 touchdowns. Riley Nyp joins Friend in the backfield after transferring from Logan-Palco and leads the team in rushing with 1,450 yards and 20 touchdowns, while Ryan Buresh is the top target in the passing game with 846 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns. The Cardinals took down Elkhart 49-6 in the first round of the playoffs, followed that with a 49-0 win over Republic County and then beat Smith Center for the second time this season in Sub-State winning 14-0 to advance to the title game. 

The game sets up to be a highly competitive contest and Coach Derek Jasper and the Troy Trojans led by a senior class of 13 guys look to clip the wings of the Plainville Cardinals to earn the win and capture the State title. Kickoff is set for 1:00pm on Saturday in Hays at Fort Hays State University; listen to the action on 103.9 KNZA with pregame live from Hays starting at 12:20pm (you listen online at MSCSports.net under Listen Live tab click KNZA or on your phone/tablet by downloading the MSCradio app)