Browder’s 5 TD’s carry Troy over Anderson


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It had been a long time since Troy had won a playoff football game. Trojans senior running back Josh Browder took that personal.

“This means a lot to us and it’s been a while since we made it to the playoffs,” said Browder after Troy celebrated its first playoff win in 16 years by outlasting visiting Cincinnati Anderson 41-35 on Friday night at Memorial Stadium. “If feels good to make a statement for our team and the city of Troy.”

Next up in Troy’s remarkable season is a rematch with Miamisburg in the Division II, Region 8 semifinals next Friday at a neutral site that will be announced by the Ohio High School Athletic Association on Sunday. Miamisburg advanced by defeating visiting Kings 28-24 also on Friday.

Troy (10-1) suffered its only loss 21-17 to Miamisburg (9-2) in Week 5 in the closing seconds.

Browder super-charged Troy’s ground game by scoring four of five touchdowns in the first half. His 22 carries produced 243 rushing yards and he scored on dashes of 77, 57 and 16 yards. He also had three receptions for 114 yards and TD catches of 30 and 27 yards from record-setting Trojans quarterback Hayden Kotwica.

“It felt different. It felt like a dream,” Browder said. “I was just trying to hit my holes and in the open field they couldn’t keep up with my speed so I just tried to take off.”

That nearly wasn’t enough, because Anderson rallied from a 19-point halftime deficit behind a record-setting QB of its own, junior Jay Volpenhein. He riddled Troy’s secondary by completing 43 of 74 passes for 404 yards and five touchdowns.

The teams combined for more than 1,000 yards offense. Ironically, it was Troy’s goal-line stand in the final seconds that secured the win. Volpenhein, who rushed for 157 yards, was stopped at the Troy 4 on a fourth-down run, missing a first down by a yard with just 20 seconds remaining that ended a desperation drive that started on their own 3.

“The defense has been playing great all year and we knew Anderson was a great offensive team,” Troy coach Matt Burgbacher said. “For us to pull it out there at the end and get a goal-line stand, whew.”

Both teams had turnaround seasons. Troy was just 2-8 last season and yet earned a Region 8 top seed. Anderson (7-4) was coming off a 1-9 season and was the No. 8 seed.

Troy linebacker Shane Shoop had a pair of first-half interceptions. Troy’s John Wehrkamp and Jacob Anderson also thwarted Anderson drives with second-half interceptions.

Browder slipped behind the Anderson defense to catch a 30-yard scoring pass from Kotwica with just two seconds remaining in the half. Anderson overcame that and appeared to have scored the tying touchdown on a run by Volpenhein in the closing seconds, but a holding penalty nullified it. Troy’s defense held a couple plays later.

“There’s not too many people who thought Troy would be 10-1 right now, but we are and we’re very proud of it,” Burgbacher said. “These guys have earned it.”

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