SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Two big plays in the first half put Troy High School up for good Saturday in the NYSPHSAA Class AA football state championship at the Carrier Dome.
The game’s MVP Dev Holmes was responsible for both long scores – the first, a 53-yard run and when he caught a bomb from John Germinerio for an 89-yard catch-and-run to put Troy up 13-0. Holmes finished with 95 yards rushing and 119 receiving.
A big play turned into the title-sealing call as on third-and-long, the Flying Horses called a play action pass to tight end to Jessie Brown that allowed Troy to march into victory formation then celebrate a state championship.
As much as the big plays had Troy looking like in control of the game, Victor stayed in it. Down two scores at the end of the half, quarterback Clay Bleier found Andrew Russell for a 26-yard passing touchdown.
Then, down a pair of scores again in the second half and needing momentum, Zack Estabrooks broke an 80-yard touchdown run for the Blue Devils. Estabrooks finished with a game-high 163 rushing yards.
Victor established a strong drive crossing over into the fourth quarter that lasted 20 plays and 9:19. The scoring drive almost didn’t happen if not for fake punt fourth-down conversion in Victor’s own territory kept it alive.
Chris Varone, who picked up most of the yardage in bunches on that drive, walked into the end zone to put Victor within a point. But, the Blue Devils called a right-aligned formation in an attempt to trick Troy on the two-point conversion, but Troy wasn't fooled. The run attempt was stopped short of the end zone and Victor stayed behind by a point.