PHOTOS: Strong running game and defense in second half lifts Troy past Irvine 29-14

Troy quarterback Ryan Maturo hands off to Kiernan Klingsberg for a big gain Friday night. (Photos courtesy Jim Tomlin, For OC Sports Zone).

Troy High School’s football team used a strong ground game and its defense shut out Irvine in the second half as the Warriors defeated the Vaqueros 29-14 in a non-league game Friday night at Irvine Stadium.

Fischer Huss rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown and the Warriors (3-0) compiled 275 yards on the ground to rack up their third consecutive victory. Irvine fell to 1-2.

“We stuck to what we do best and ran the ball,” said Huss.  

The Warriors took the opening kickoff and drove 91 yards in seven-plays to take a 8-0 lead. The key play on the drive was a 30-yard run by Kieran Klingsberg on a third-down play deep in Troy territory. Klingsberg capped the drive with a 20-yard TD run.

To see the slide show, click on the first picture:

Ethan Hasagawa breaks away for a big gain for Irvine.

Troy's Ryan Maturo throws a bullet for a two-point extra point under pressure.

Irvine's Ian Hew takes a pick six to the end zone to cut Troy's lead.

Troy's Anthony Santoro (No. 11) and No. 42 Jacob Loncrier close in on Irvine's Kendyn Beaver.

Irvine students cheer for the Vaqueros Friday night.

Irvine's Ethan France tackles Troy's Fischer Huss after a gain.

Irvine quarterback Joseph Tierney gets pressure from JT Torres of Troy.

Troy students cheer on the Warriors against Irvine.

After the Vaqueros attempted pass fell incomplete on a fourth-down play, the Warriors took over and quickly moved down field 49 yards in eight-plays to up its lead to 15-0. Huss scored on a one-yard run with 59 seconds left in the opening quarter. All 15 of Troy’s plays in the first quarter were rushing plays.

On the ensuing possession, Irvine moved the ball to the Troy 30-yard line but a costly fumble was picked up by defensive back Anthony Santoro, who rumbled 70 yards for a Warriors touchdown, giving Troy a 22-0 lead. Santoro added an interception in the second half that halted a Vaqueros drive.  

However, Irvine impressively battled back in the second quarter and scored twice in the span of one-minute to close the gap.

Down by three touchdowns the Vaqueros went on a 9-play, 61-yard scoring drive. Kendyn Beaver bulled into the end zone to cut the lead to 22-7 with 4:32 left in the half. On the second play of Troy’s ensuing possession, Irvine defensive back Ian Hew stepped in front of a Ryan Maturo pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 22-14 at halftime. 

However, the Vaqueros offense sputtered in the second half as Troy’s defense stiffened.   

“We had a lot of guys going both ways and I think we ran out of gas in the second half,” said Irvine Coach Tom Ricci.

The Warriors added a fourth-quarter touchdown on a 11-yard TD pass from Maturo to Klingsberg to close out the scoring. Declan Healey and Klingsberg combined to rush for 125 yards for Troy while Beaver and Evan Hasegawa combined to rush for 102 yards for Irvine.   

“We battled and didn’t fold when they scored two quick touchdowns on us in the second quarter,” said Troy Coach Michael Echaves.

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone