Troy High players line up for the national anthem prior to Saturday's homecoming game against Shaker. (Photo by Will Montgomery - The Record).

TROY — Hundreds of Troy High alumni returned to campus for Saturday’s Liberty Division championship homecoming football game against Shaker.

So did the Troy High defense.

The Flying Horses, coming off a pair of hard-earned victories, held Shaker to 142 yards of total offense and just six first downs. Troy senior running back Jordan Canzeri rushed for 282 yards and three touchdowns on 26 attempts in a 34-0 victory in front of a standing-room only crowd on Edward C. Picken Field.

Troy's Michael Pastore tackles Shaker quarterback Ben Capeless during Saturday's shutout victory. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

“It meant a lot. We knew a lot of people would be here and all of us talked about that,” Canzeri said. “We knew even more would be here since we were the last two undefeated teams going at it for the first seed and it was just great to get this and get a win like this because it just sends a message that we’re playing Troy High football from now on.”

To view video highlights from Saturday's game, visit www.troyrecord.com/video/sports

Troy had struggled defensively each of the past two weeks, having to come from behind at Saratoga Springs in Week Five and giving up 336 passing yards in an overtime victory at Niskayuna last week.

"There was a lot of hype going into practice," said senior defensive back Dan Danahy, pictured above. "A little extra energy. It all paid off today. We put up a 0, not a 28."

Shaker quarterback Ben Capeless went 0-for-6 before completing his first pass and the Troy High defense did not allow a Blue Bison run of longer than 11 yards in the first half as the offense gradually relied on Canzeri to build its lead.

“We had to overcome the running game to start to make them pass,” said Troy High senior cornerback Evan Vadney. “And once they started throwing, we had just been repping it in practice over and over again. We know our coverages and we know where we need to be and we just got there and got it done.”

Vadney recovered a Shaker fumble early in the third quarter. Michael Pastore added a sack and Stephaun Grinage contributed with an interception of a Capeless pass later in the third as the Flying Horses began to pull away.

"We knew that it would be a battle but our main objective was to score early, stop them on ‘D’ with a three-and-out and score again," Canzeri said.

“(Defensive coordinator) Bobby Burns does a phenomenal job with our defense,” said Troy head coach Jack Burger. “He was very disappointed the last two weeks and he took it very personal. The kids think the world of Bobby and I think they went out and played hard obviously for themselves, but I think they played hard for coach Burns, too.”

"We practice a lot," Canzeri said. "Coach Burns helps us a lot. We go through all the looks and go through all the opponents’ plays. We knew we got thrown against a lot last week, so we just practiced, practiced, practice and we just played well."

Shatiek Lewis, a senior running back for Troy who sustained an ankle injury on his first rushing attempt at Saratoga Springs and did not play last week against Niskayuna, ran the ball three times for nine yards in Saturday’s game and did not play at all in the second half.

Troy High senior running back Jordan Canzeri slices through the Shaker defense Saturday afternoon. (Carras photo - The Record).

“Being on my own, I wish he was still in the backfield with me, but now I know how much I really have to work and how hard I really have to push myself,” Canzeri said.

Canzeri, one of Section II’s top home run hitters out of the backfield, collected seven runs of at least 16 yards in the game.

Troy (6-0, 7-0) clinched the Liberty Division’s No. 1 seed and will host Empire Division No. 4 Christian Brothers Academy (3-3, 4-3) in a Section II Class AA quarterfinal game Saturday.

Shaker (5-1, 6-1) earned the No. 2 seed and will host Empire Division No. 3 Shenendehowa (4-2, 5-2) Friday night.

“I think we’ll be a lot more sound,” Vadney, pictured above, said of his postseason expectations. “Most of our defense has been in position since last year. We have a lot of returnees. There are only a couple of new guys, so we’ve been there. We know what is going to come at us. I think we’ll do well.”

TROY 34, SHAKER 0

Shaker (5-1, 6-1) 0 0 0 0 — 0
Troy (6-0, 7-0) 7 6 14 7 — 34
First Quarter
T — Jordan Canzeri 26 run (Badro Talbi kick) 7:34
Second Quarter
T — Canzeri 47 run (kick blocked) 11:52
Third Quarter
T — Brian Marsh 1 run (Talbi kick) 6:56
T — Josh Blaauboer 16 pass from Marsh (Talbi kick) 0:27
Fourth Quarter
T — Canzeri 36 run (Talbi kick) 11:07
Individual Stats:
Rushing: Shaker (29-92): Alund 14-80, Bernard 10-15, Valentino 1-(-1), Capeless 4-(-2). Troy (48-402): Canzeri 26-282, Marsh 6-36, Felder 5-35, Valenti 2-16, Mann 2-15, Geraci 4-9, Lewis 3-9.
Passing: Shaker: Capeless 4-14-50-0-1. Troy: Marsh 6-8-92-1-0.
Receiving: Shaker (4-50): Valentino 1-21, Sherwin 1-16, Kisselback 1-7, Hyatt 1-6. Troy (6-92): Blaauboer 3-73, Felder 1-12, Blair 1-9, Canzeri 1-(-2).

2010 Edward C. Picken Hall of Fame Inductees:

Sidney J. Bailey (1956)
Robert J. Bocketti (1999)
Steve Finkle (1999)
Jarod Kussler (1996)
Mike LaRose (1996)
Peter J. Naime (1999)
Nancy Probst (1997)
Brewington L. Reid (1975)
Edward Smulsky (1958)
Augustine J. Sprerrazza (1959)
Talia Valenti (2005)
Charlie Wick (1959)

The six finalists for Troy High homecoming queen line up at halftime. Lauren Cooney, third from left, won the crown, or the tiara, in 2010.

For more highlights from the halftime ceremony, watch the video below.

Troy High Homecoming Queen Lauren Cooney celebrates at halftime. (Carras photo - The Record).

Saturday's Section II scoreboard

Class AA
Liberty Division
Troy 34, Shaker 0
Class A
Northwest Division
Queensbury 12, Glens Falls 8
Class B
Reinfurt Division
Cohoes 28, Hudson 6
Class C
North Division
Stillwater 49, Hoosic Valley 6

South Division
Voorheesville 24, Watervliet 0
Canajoharie 13, Coxsackie 6
Class D
Fort Edward 47, Bishop Gibbons 0
Cambridge 52, Warrensburg 0

Friday's scoreboard

Class AA
Empire Division
CBA 35, Albany 0
Guilderland 33, Bethlehem 7
Saratoga 14, Shenendehowa 12
Liberty Division
Columbia 26, La Salle 20
Schenectady 23, Colonie 6
Non-division
Niskayuna 42, Ballston Spa 17
Class A
Southeast Division
Lansingburgh 20, Maginn 14
Averill Park 32, Mohonasen 14
Northwest Division
Amsterdam 42, Gloversville 21
Non-division
Burnt Hills 70, S.Glens Falls 13
Scotia-Glenville 34, Cairo 0
Class B
Reinfurt Division
Ravena 21, Albany Academy 6
West Division
Hudson Falls 61, Broadalbin 34
Cobleskill 26, Johnstown 6
Schalmont 13, Schuylerville 0
Class C
South Division
Fonda 21, Taconic Hills 6
North Division
Mechanicville 28, Tamarac 27 (2 OT)
Granville 48, Corinth 20
Non-division
Chatham 48, Greenwich 28
Catholic Central 14, I.Crane 13
Class D
Rensselaer 18, Whitehall 6

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